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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, Director 

Water-supply Paper 314 



SURFACE WATER SUPPLY 

OF 

SEWARD PENINSULA, ALASKA 

By F. F. HENSHAW and G. L. PARKER 
WITH 

A SKETCH OF THE OEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY 

By PHILIP S. SMITH 
AND 

A DESCRIPTION OF METHODS OF PLACER MINING 

By ALFRED H. BROOKS 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1913 



^onograe^^ 



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DiRECTOB 



Water- Sttpply Paper 314 



SURFACE WATER SUPPLY ^^^ 



OF 



SEWARD PENINSULA, ALASKA . 



By F. F. HENSHAW and G. L. PARKER 

w I 



WITH 

A SKETCH OF THE GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY 

By PHILIP S. SMITH 
AND 

A DESCRIPTION OF METHODS OF PLACER MINING 

By ALFRED H. BROOKS 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1913 



'^H 






D. OF D, 






CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Introduction, by Alfred H. Brooks 9 

Scope of work 9 

Acknowledgments 12 

Topography, by Philip S. Smith 13 

Climate, by F. F. Henshaw and G. L. Parker 15 

General features 15 

Temperature.., 16 

Precipitation 19 

Descriptive geology, by Philip S. Smith 32 

Sedimentary rocks 33 

Igneous rocks 35 

Unconsolidated deposits 37 

Gold placers, by Philip S. Smith 38 

Nature and origin 38 

Residual placers 39 

Water-sorted placers 39 

Stream plac#rs 40 

Beach placers 44 

Distribution 48 

Developed placers .* 48 

Prospective placers 49 

Discharge of streams, by F. F. Henshaw and G. L. Parker. 51 

Terms used 51 

Data given 53 

Field methods of measuring stream flow 54 

Slope method 54 

Weir method 54 

Velocity method 55 

Office methods of computing and studying discharge and run-off 57 

Accuracy and limitations of the data 60 

Drainage areas 62 

Detailed descriptions and measurements 68 

Fish River drainage basin 68 

Description 68 

Pargon River drainage basin 69 

Description 69 

Pargon River and Pargon ditch at intake 70 

Pargon ditch below McKelvie Creek 71 

Pargon ditch below Helen Creek 73 

Miscellaneous measurements 76 

Niukluk River drainage basin 76 

Description 76 

American Creek 77 

Miscellaneous measurements 78 

3 



4 CONTENTS. 

Detailed descriptions and measurements — Continued. 
Fish River drainage basin — Continued. 

Niukluk River drainage basin — Continued. Page. 

Casadepaga River drainage basin 78 

Description 78 

Casadepaga River below Moonlight Creek 79 

Miscellaneous measurements , 80 

Ophir Creek drainage basin 81 

Description 81 

Ophir Creek at Canyon ditch intake 82 

Canyon ditch near intake 83 

Canyon ditch above claim ' ' No. 10 above " 86 

Miscellaneous measurements 87 

Solomon River drainage basin 87 

Description 87 

Solomon River below East Fork 88 

Miscellaneous measurements 90 

Eldorado River drainage basin 90 

Flambeau River drainage basin 91 

Nome River drainage basin 91 

Description 91 

Nome River above Miocene ditch intake 92 

Nome River below Miocene ditch intake 95 

Natural discharge of Nome River at Miocene ditch intake 96 

Nome River below Pioneer ditch intake 97 

David Creek at Miocene ditch intake * 101 

Hobson Creek at Miocene ditch intake 102 

Hobson Creek below Manila Creek 104 

Campion ditch at Black Point 105 

Miocene ditch system 107 

Description 107 

Miocene ditch at Black Point 108 

Miocene ditch at Clara Creek , Ill 

Miocene ditch above Hobson Creek 113 

Miocene ditch below Hobson Creek 115 

Miocene ditch below the flume 118 

David Creek ditch opposite Black Point 121 

Jett Cieek ditch ■ 123 

Grand Central ditch 125 

Seward ditch system 126 

Description 126 

Seward ditch at intake 126 

Seward ditch below Hobson branch 129 

Seward ditch below Dexter Creek flume ]30 

Seward ditch above Newton Gulch 132 

Hobson Branch of Seward ditch 134 

Pioneer ditch system 135 

Description 135 

Pioneer ditch at intake 135 

Miscellaneous measurements 138 

Snake River drainage basin 139 

Description 139 

Snake River above Glacier Creek 140 



CONTEN^TS. 5 

Detailed descriptions and measurements— Continued. Page. 

Penny River drainage basin 141 

Description 141 

Penny River and Sutton ditch at intake 141 

Cripple River drainage basin 143. 

Description. 143 

Cedric ditch above penstock 143 

Miscellaneous measurements 145 

Sinuk River drainage basin 145 

Description 145 

Upper Sinuk River at elevation 700 feet 146 

Windy Creek at elevation 650 feet 147 

North Star Creek at elevation 900 feet 148 

Miscellaneous measurements 149 

Tributaries of Imuruk Basin 150 

Fall, Pond, and Glacier creeks and Snow Gulch 150 

Cobblestone River 151 

Grand Central River drainage basin 151 

Description 151 

West Fork of Grand Central River at pipe intake 153 

West Fork of Grand Central River at ditch intake 155 

West Fork of Grand Central River at the forks 156 

Grand Central River below the forks 158 

Grand Central River below Nugget Creek 161 

Crater Lake outlet 162 

North Fork of Grand Central River at pipe intake 165 

North Fork of Grand Central River near ditch intake 166 

North Fork of Grand Central River at the forks 167 

Gold Run near mouth of canyon 168 

Thompson Creek near ditch intake 170 

Nugget, Jett, and Morning Call creeks 172 

Miscellaneous measurements 173 

Kruzgamepa River drainage basin 173 

Description 173 

Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Salmon Lake 175 

Kruzgamepa River above Iron Creek 182 

Iron Creek drainage basin 183 

Description 183 

Dome Creek below Hardluck Creek 184 

Iron Creek below Canyon Creek 185 

Iron Creek above the tunnel 185 

Iron Creek at mouth 187 

Iron Creek flume at intake 188 

Pass Creek below dam site 189 

Smith Creek below Swift Creek 191 

Middle, Osborn, and West End creeks 193 

Miscellaneous measurements 194 

Kuzitrin River drainage basin 195 

Description 195 

Kuzitrin River at Lanes Landing 196 

Miscellaneous measurements 200 

Kougarok River drainage basin 200 

Description 200 

Kougarok River and Homestake ditch at intake 201 



6 CONTENTS. 

Page. 
Detailed descriptions and measurements — Continued. 
Kuzitrin River drainage basin — Continued. 

Kougarok River drainage basin — Continued. 

Kougarok River below Henry Creek 205 

Kougarok River above Coarse Gold Creek 206 

Taylor Creek at Cascade intake 209 

Henry Creek at mouth 210 

Coarse Gold Creek near mouth 213 

North Fork above Eureka Creek. 215 

Ditches 217 

Homestake ditch at penstock 217 

North Star ditch above siphon 218 

Cascade ditch 219 

Miscellaneous measurements 219 

American River drainage basin 221 

Serpentine River drainage basin 222 

Description 222 

Quartz Creek above Bismark Creek 223 

Miscellaneous measurements 223 

Goodhope River drainage basin 223 

Description 223 

Goodhope River below Esperanza Creek 224 

Miscellaneous measurements 226 

Inmachuk River drainage basin 226 

Description 226 

Inmachuk River below Logan Guich 227 

Miscellaneous measurements 229 

Kugruk River drainage basin 229 

Description 229 

Imuruk Lake 230 

Kugruk River below Fairhaven ditch intake 232 

Kugruk River above Reindeer Creek 232 

Chicago Creek at coal mine 234 

Miscellaneous measurements 234 

Fairhaven ditch system 235 

Description 235 

Fairhaven ditch at intake of upper section 236 

Fairhaven ditch at Camp 2, upper section 237 

Fairhaven ditch at Snow Gulch 238 

Miscellaneous measurements 239 

Kiwalik River drainage basin 240 

Description 240 

Kiwalik River below Candle Creek 242 

Quartz Creek below the forks 243 

Glacier Creek above intake of Candle ditch 244 

Dome Creek at siphon crossing 246 

Hunter Creek near ditch intake 246 

Miscellaneous measurements 248 

Bear Creek drainage basin 249 

Description 249 

Miscellaneous measurements 249 



CONTENTS. 7 

Page. 

Water power, by F. F. Henshaw 249 

General conditions 249 

Power sites 251 

Ditches, by F. F. Henshaw 255 

Introduction 255 

Methods of construction 258 

Flumes 260 

Siphons and pipe lines " 262 

Seepage losses, by G. L. Parker 263 

Placer mining, by Alfred H. Brooks 269 

Sources of information 269 

Historical sketch 270 

Cost of placer mining 272 

Methods 276 

Sources of information 276 

Prospecting 277 

General conditions 277 

Prospecting by chum drills 278 

Power drills 278 

Hand drills 279 

Comparative merits of power and hand drills 280 

Sampling 281 

Drilling season 282 

Reliability of data procured by drilling 282 

Prospecting by shaft 282 

Choice of prospecting methods 283 

Mining 285 

General principles 285 

Rocker and long torn 285 

Open-cut mining 286 

Hydraulic mining 289 

Elevators 290 

Dredging 292 

Underground mining 297 

Summary of placer mining 301 

Index 305 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Page. 

Plate I. Map of Seward Peninsula In pocket. 

II. Typical topography, Seward Peninsula 12 

III. A, Upper Grand Central River valley; B, Glaciated valley near 

Mount Osborne 13 

IV. Geologic map, Seward Peninsula 32 

V. A, Price current meters; B, Measuring Grand Central River 56 

VI. A, Candle ditch, Fairhaven district; B, Homestake ditch, showing 

Bod work 258 

VII. Rock cut around Cape Horn on Miocene ditch 259 

VIII. A, Flume on Ophir Creek; B, Flume of Topkok ditch, near Bluff... 260 
IX. A, Mining with rocker on beach at Bluff, 1900; B, Using long torn 

near Nome 284 

X. A, Open-cut mining on bench of Glacier Creek; B, Groundsluicing 

on Glacier Creek 286 

XI. A, Groundsluicing with hydraulic giant on Anvil Creek; B, Mining 

with horse scrapers on Goldbottom Creek 287 

XII. A, Open-cut mining with derrick and bucket hoist on Ophir Creek; 

B, Placer mining with track and incline on Ophir Creek 288 

XIII. A, Open-cut mining with hand trams on Ophir Creek; B, Mining 

with steam shovel on Anvil Creek 289 

XIV. A, Hydraulic mining on Daniels Creek; B, Underground mining in 

frozen alluvium near Nome 290 

XV. Hydraulic elevator on Glacier Creek 291 

XVI . Gold dredge on Solomon River near mouth of Johnson Gulch 292 

XVII. A, Headframe and sluice boxes for underground mining operations in 
Nome; B, Surface equipment of underground mine near Nome, 

using aerial tram and self-dumping bucket 298 

Figure 1. Hydrograph of typical streams and rainfall stations of Seward 

Peninsula for 1908 20 

2. Diagrammatic cross section of valley showing different types of 

placers 41 

3. Sketch map and profile of high bench gravels south of King Moun- 

tain 42 

4. Diagrammatic section of beach placers 45 

5. Sketch map of Nome region showing distribution of placers 46 

6. Diagrammatic cross section showing beaches near Nome 47 

7. Cross section of stream showing method of measuring 55 

8. Discharge curves for Henry Creek at mouth 58 

9. Discharge, area, and mean velocity curves for Canyon ditch at 

intake 59 

10. Diagram showing gold production of Seward Peninsula, 1897-1910. . 271 

11. A Klondike rocker 286 

12. Diagrammatic section of underground placer mine showing method 

of hoisting and thawing with steam 299 

8 



SDllFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

ALASKA. 



By F. F. Henshaw and G. L. Parkeb. 



INTRODUCTION. 

By Alfred H. Brooks. 

SCOPE OF WORK. 

This report presents the result of stream-flow measurements made 
in Seward Peninsula during the years 1906 to 1910, inclusive. The 
geography, geology, and meteorology of the peninsula are first 
briefly discussed, inasmuch as they have a controlling influence on 
the run-off, but in this introductory part of the report no attempt is 
made at a final analysis of the many geologic problems involved, 
which have been considered at greater length in the several reports 
of the United States Geological Survey^ relating to Seward Peninsula. 

1 These reports include the papers listed below. All except those marked by an asterisk, which indicates 
that the Geological Survey's stock of the publication is exhausted, may be obtained on application to the 
Director of the United States Geological Survey, Washington, D. C. 
Preliminary reports on the Cape Nome gold region, Alaska, by F. C. Schrader and A. H. Brooks. In a 

special publication. 1900. 56 pp. 
A reconnaisance of the Cape Nome and adjacent gold fields of Sev/ard Peninsula, Alaska, in 1900, by A. H. 

Brooks, G. B. Richardson, and A. J. Collier. In a special publication entitled " Reconnaissances in the 

Cape Nome and Norton Bay regions, Alaska, in 1900." 1901. 180 pp. 
A reconnaissance in the Norton Bay region, Alaska, in 1900, by W. C. Mendenhall. In a special publication 

entitled "Reconnaissances in the Cape Nome and Norton Bay regions, Alaska, in 1900." 
A reconnaissance of the northwestern portion of Seward Peninsula, Alaska, by A. J. Collier. Professional 

Paper 2. 1902. 70 pp. 
The tin deposits of the York region, Alaska, by A. J. Collier. Bulletin 229. 1904. 61 pp. 
♦Recent developments of Alaskan tin deposits, by A, J. Collier. In Bulletin 259. 1905. pp. 120-127. 
The Fairhaven gold placers, Seward Peninsula, by F. H. Moffit. Bulletin 247. 1905. 85 pp. 
The York tin region, by F. L. Hess. In Bulletin 284. 1906. pp. 145-157. 
Gold minmg on Seward Peninsula, by F. H. Moffit. In Bulletin 284. 1906. pp. 132-141. 
The Kougarok region, by A. H. Brooks. In Bulletin 314. 1907. pp. 164-181. 
*Water supply of Nome region, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, 1906, by J. C. Hoyt and F. F. Henshaw. Water- 

Supply Paper 196. 1907. 52 pp. 
Water supply of the Nome region, Seward Peninsula, 1906, by J. C. Hoyt and F. F. Henshaw. In Bulletin 

314. 1907. pp. 182-186. 
TheNome region, by F. H. Moffit. In Bulletin 314. 1907. pp. 126-145. 

Gold fields of the Solomon and Niukluk river basins, by P. S. Smith. In BuDetin 314. 1907. pp. 146-156. 
Geology and mineral resources of Iron Creek, by P. S. Smith. In Bulletin 314. 1907. pp. 157-163. 
The gold placers of parts of Seward Peninsula, Alaska, including the Nome, Council, Kougarok, Port 

Clarence, and Goodhope precincts, by A. J. Collier, F. L. Hess, P. S. Smith, and A. H. Brooks. Bulle- 
tin 328. 1908. 343 pp. 
Investigation of the mineral deposits of Seward Peninsula, by P. S. Smith. In Bulletin 345. 1908. pp. 

206-250. 
The Seward Peninsula tin deposits, by Adolph Knopf. In Bulletin 345. 1908. pp. 251-267. 
Mineral deposits of the Lost River and Brooks Mountain regions, Seward Peninsula, by Adolph Knopf. In 

Bulletin 345. 1908. pp. 268-271. 
Water supply of the Nome and Kougarok regions, Seward Peninsula, in 1906-7, by F. F. Henshaw. Id 

Bulletin 345. 1908. pp. 272-285. 

9 



10 SUKFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

The general features of the topography herein described are also 
shown graphically on the map of the peninsula reproduced as Plate 
I (in pocket). This map is based on surveys made during the years 
1900 to 1909, inclusive. Those who are interested in the details of 
the topography are referred to the several maps ^ which have been 
published by the Geological Survey. 

The occurrence and distribution of the gold placers are summarized 
in the section devoted to geology. At present the mining of the placer 
gold is the only incentive to the utilization of the stream flow. 
Methods and costs of mining are briefly considered in the last section 
of this volume. 

Plans were under consideration as early as 1903 for the systematic 
investigation of the water resources of Alaska, but the need of devot- 
ing the Alaskan appropriation to what was believed to be more 
important work prevented the prosecution of such an investigation. 
In 1906 a plan which contemplated the investigation of the water 
resources of the most important Alaska placer districts was formu- 
lated, but inasmuch as the funds available were sufiicient to investi- 
gate only one area in the first year, the Nome district was chosen as 
that in which information concerning water resources would be of 
greatest value. In the foUowing year similar investigations were 
begun in the Fairbanks district. The original plan contemplated 

Geology of the Seward Peninsula tin deposits, by Adolph Knopf. Bulletin 358. 1908. 72 pp. 
*Water-supply investigations in Alaska, 1906 and 1907, by F. F, Hensbaw and C. C. Covert. Water-Supply 

Paper 218. 1908. pp.156. 
Geology of the Seward Peninsula tin deposits, by Adolph Knopf. Bulletin 358. 1908. 72 pp. 
Recent developments in southern Seward Peninsula, by P. S. Smith. In Bulletin 379. 1909. pp. 267-301. 
The Iron Creek region, by P. S. Smith. In Bulletin 379. 1909. pp. 302-354, 
Mining in the Fairhaven precinct, by F. F. Henshaw. In Bulletin 379. 1909. pp. 355-369. 
Water-supply investigations in Seward Peninsula in 1908, by F. F. Henshaw. In Bulletin 379. 1909. 

pp. 370-401. 
Geology and mineral resources of the Solomon and Casadepaga quadrangles, Seward Peninsula, by P. S. 

Smith. Bulletin 433. 1910. 227 pp. 
A geologic reconnaissance in southeastern Seward Peninsula and the Norton Bay-Nulato region, Alaska, by 

P. S. Smith and H, M. Eakin. Bulletin 449. 1911. 156 pp. 
Notes on mining in Seward Peninsula, by P. S. Smith. In Bulletin 520. 1912. pp. 339-344. 
Geology of the Nome and Grand Central quadrangles, Alaska, by F. H. Moffit. Bulletin 533. (In 

preparation. ) 
1 Such of the following maps as are for sale may be purchased from the Director of the Survey. 
Seward Peninsula, northeastern portion of, topographic reconnaissance map of; scale, 1:250,000; by D. C. 

Witherspoon and C. E. Hill. In Bulletin 247. For sale at 50 cents each, or $30 a hundred. 
Seward Peninsula, northwestern portion of, topographic reconnaissance map of; scale, 1:250,000; by T. G. 

Gerdine and D. C. Witherspoon. In Bulletin 328. For sale at 50 cents each, or $30 a hundred. 
Seward Peninsula, southern portion of, topographic reconnaissance map of; scale, 1:250,000; by E. C. Bar- 
nard, T. G. Gerdine, and others. In Bulletin 328. For sale at 50 cents each, or $30 a hundred. 
Seward Peninsula, southeastern part of; by D. C. Witherspoon, W J. Peters, H. M. Eakin, and others; 

scale, 1:250,000. In Bulletin 449. 
Grand Central quadrangle; scale, 1:62,500; by T. G. Gerdine, R. B, Oliver, and W. R. Hill. Forsaleat 10 

cents each, or $6 a hundred. 
Nome quadrangle; scale, 1: 62,500; by T. G. Gerdine, R. B. Oliver, and W. R. Hill. For sale at 10 cents 

each, or $6 a hundred. 
Casadepaga quadrangle; scale, 1: 62,500; by T. G. Gerdine, W. B. Corse, and B. A. Yoder. For sale at 10 

cents each, or $6 a hundred. 
Solomon quadrangle; scale, 1: 62,500; by T. G. Gerdine, W. B. Corse, and B. A. Yoder. For sale at 10 

ceats each, or $6 a hundred. 



INTKODUCTION. 11 

Rye seasons of observation in each district, but it bas not been pos- 
sible to adhere strictly to this plan. Even five years of observation 
by no means furiaishes absolutely reliable data on minimum run-off, 
but it is believed that the results herein set forth will be sufficient for 
general purposes. They should, of course, be supplemented by more 
detailed records where large investments are to be made in projects 
depending for tTieir success on the maintenance each year of a certain 
minimum flow. 

The hydrometric surveys whose results are published in this report 
were carried on under the appropriation for the investigation of the 
mineral resources of Alaska by engineers detailed for this purpose 
from the water-resources branch of the Geological Survey. Credit 
should be given to John C. Hoyt, assistant chief hydrographer, who 
personally began these surveys in 1906 and has since that time super- 
vised the technical part of the field work. Mr. Hoyt, in company 
with F. F. Henshaw, began investigations at Nome in June, 1906, 
conducting a reconnaissance northward to the Kigluaik Mountains 
(locally known as the Sawtooth Range), and covering the more 
important part of the producing placer district. A number of gaging 
stations were established by Mr. Hoyt before he left Alaska, early in 
August. The work was carried on by Mr. Henshaw for the remainder 
of the year and was continued by him with the help of one assistant 
during the three succeeding years. Stream-flow measurements have 
been limited each season to the period between the middle of June 
and the early part of October. 

In 1907, after assisting Raymond Richards to start the work south 
of the Kigluaik Mountains, Mr. Henshaw proceeded to the Kougarok 
district, where he spent the greater part of the season. In 1908 A. 
T. Barrows was assigned to assist Mr. Henshaw as junior engineer, 
and spent most of his time during that season in the Nome and 
Kougarok regions. Mr. Henshaw worked in the Fairhaven district 
from July 23 until the severe frosts came, during the first week of 
September. The rest of September was spent in the southern part 
of the peninsula. 

Messrs. Henshaw and G. L. Parker left Nome on June 13, 1909, for 
the Fairhaven district, by way of Nome River, Salmon Lake, Lanes 
Landing, and the head of the Kougarok, reestablishing on the way as 
many gaging stations as coifld be visited. New gaging stations were 
established on many of the larger streams of the northern slope of the 
mountains, and the work was left in charge of Mr. Parker. Mr. 
Henshaw returned by steamer from Candle to Nome, and spent the 
rest of the season in southern Seward Peninsula, giving special atten- 
tion to the Nome, Kougarok, and Council districts. 

In September, 1910, Mr. Parker, who had been investigating the 
water resources of the Fairbanks region, visited a number of gaging 



12 SUEFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

stations near Nome and obtained such data as various cooperating 
companies and individuals had collected earlier in the year. The 
records for 1910 are not so complete as those of the previous years, 
but they serve to extend the observations over a longer period and 
thus add value to the results. 

This report has been prepared by Mr. Henshaw, with the assistance 
of Mr. Parker. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 

Except for the cordial cooperation of many residents of Seward 
Peninsula this work could not have been made so complete as it is 
with the comparatively small allotments that could be made to it. 
The mine and ditch operators were quick to realize the value of these 
investigations, and have at all times shown a cordial spirit in assisting 
the engineers by every means in their power. Many have rendered 
most valuable assistance in making gage readings, in furnishing 
stream-flow records made under private auspices, and in affording 
facilities to engineers during their periodic visits. 

A complete list of all who have aided the work would be almost a 
roster of the placer-mine operators of the peninsula. Special thanks 
are due to the following persons and companies : In the Nome region : 

B. Deleray, manager, and the employees of the Miocene Ditch Co.; 

C. H. Munro, manager, and the employees of the Wild Goose Mining 
& Trading Co.; Japhet Lindeberg, president, and the employees of 
the Pioneer Mining Co. ; the Cedric Ditch Co. ; the Gold Beach Devel- 
opment Co.; the United Ditch Co.; W. L. Leland; J. E. Styers; 
Arthur Gibson; George M. Ashford, and Frank Was key. In the 
Kougarok region: J. M. Davidson, president, and the employees of 
the Kougarok Mining & Ditch Co. ; A. J. Stone, general manager, and 
the employees of the Taylor Creek Ditch Co.; Samuel Schram, 
manager, and the employees of the Pittsburg-Dick Creek Mining Co., 
and C. F. Merritt. In the Fairhaven district: Employees of the Fair- 
haven Water Co.; the Candle- Alaska Hydraulic Gold Mining Co., 
and L. A. Sundquist. 

A considerable number of discharge measurements made by private 
engineers and others have been furnished to the Survey. Among 
those to whom special acknowledgment is due for furnishing data of 
this kind are C. H. Munro, W. H. Lanagan, A. B. Shutts, and R. G. 
Smith, of the WHd Goose Mining & Trading Co.; C. T. Law, of the 
Taylor Creek Ditch Co.; F. F. MiUer and J. W. Warwick, of the Mio- 
cene Ditch Co., and H. M. Long and R. S. Dimmock, of the Candle- 
Alaska Hydrauhc Gold Mining Co. 

Thanks are also due to the many gage readers scattered throughout 
the peninsula, who have rendered efficient service. Specific acknowl- 
edgment is given to each reader under the record of the particular 
station with which he was connected. 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 314 PLATE III 




A. UPPER GRAND CENTRAL RIVER VALLEY, 




B. GLACIATED VALLEY NEAR MOUNT OSBORNE. 



TOPOGKAPHY. 13 

Those not familiar with the conditions of travel in Seward Penin- 
sula can not realize at what expense of toil and hardship Mr. Henshaw 
and his assistants have worked. The travel was practically all on 
foot, and as each engineer had many gaging stations to visit some of 
the journeys made were little short of marvelous. The field season 
is short, and the engineers felt in duty bound to collect the greatest 
number of records possible. They have shown a spirit of self sacrifice 
which does high credit to them as individuals and to the profession 
to which they belong. 

TOPOGRAPHY. 

By Philip S. Smith. 

Seward Peninsula forms the westernmost part of the mainland of 
Alaska. It lies just south of the Ai'ctic Circle and has a maximum 
length east and west of about 225 miles and a width north and south 
of about 150 miles, including an area of about 20,000 square miles. 
The general features of this region are well shown by Plate I (in 
pocket) and by Plate II, but this graphic representation may be sup- 
plemented by brief verbal description. 

The peninsula comprises three main topographic provinces— a low- 
land skirting much of the coast, an elevated region with a relief up to 
about 2,000 feet (Pl. II), and a belt of mountains having a maximum 
elevation of 4,700 feet (PI. III). Although presenting these three 
different types of land formes, Seward Peninsula as a whole may be 
referred to the central plateau province of Alaska, which lies between 
the Alaskan or Pacific mountain system on the south and the Endicott 
or Hocky Mountain ^ system on the north. 

The lowland province, which almost forms a girdle around the 
peninsula, shows by the character of its material that it was made by 
the deposition of stream and marme gravels on the floor of the sea 
and was subsequently uplifted, forming a coastal plain. This plain 
shows but slight relief, nowhere rismg more than 300 feet above the 
sea, though its continuity is interrupted here and there, as at Topkok 
Head, Cape Nome, and Cape Prince of Wales, where the second prov- 
ince abuts on the coast. It is of recent origin, for it is but little dis- 
sected by the streams which flow across it. Its surface is covered 
with a rank growth of grass, but trees and even bushes are practicaUy 
absent on the interstream areas, and stunted willows and alders form 
only a narrow fringe along the watercourses. Its width varies, but 
nowhere exceeds 25 miles. 

By far the greater part of Seward Peninsula faUs into the second 
physiographic division, the plateau provmce. This province is char- 
acterized by more or less elevated country, much dissected by streams, 
so that its general appearance is hilly. It occupies the northern and 

J Brooks, A. H., Geography and geology of Alaska: Prof. Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No. 45, 1906, PI. VII. 



14 SUKFACE WATEK SUPPLY OE SEWAED PENINSULA. 

southern parts of the penhisula on either side of the mountain range. 
Collier * describes the portion south of the mountain as follows : 

To the south of the mountains is, as abeady stated, a highland mass whose summits 
range from 800 to 3,000 feet in elevation. The slopes of this upland are in many places 
broken by well-marked benches. * * * This highland area is essentially one of 
irregular topography with no well-defined system of ridges. The watercourses flow 
in broad, deeply cut valleys, whose slopes ascend gradually to the divides. The 
summits are rounded, but are broken by numerous rocky knobs, many of which are 
carved into fantastic shapes. These castellated peaks are very characteristic features 
of the topography, and their preservation plainly indicates the absence of regional 
glaciation. * * * The general trend of the larger valleys is north and south, and 
these block out broarl ridges, whose margins are scalloped by the minor tributaries. 

Many of the so-called mountains in Seward Peninsula — for instance, 
the York Mountains, in the western part — are merely dissected rem- 
nants of the general plateau just described. If mountains of this 
class are excluded, there appear to be only three distinct mountain 
ranges in Seward Peninsula, and perhaps even this number should be 
reduced, for the Kigluaik-Bendeleben Mountains and the Darby 
Kange may be continuous. The only other range is that joining the 
divide between Kiwalik and Buckland rivers. The highest points 
in this range do not exceed 2,600 feet, and its average elevation is 
probably less than 2,000 feet. 

The Kigluaik-Bendeleben Range has an average elevation of 3,000 
to 3,500 feet, the highest points rising more than 4,000 feet (PL III, 
B). The range seems to be characterized by a single main ridge; that 
is, the slopes culminate in a single continuous divide, containing all 
the highest points, with no equally elevated ridges approximately 
parallel to it. The ridge line is fairly straight and exhibits but few 
irregularities. In general the range is unsymmetrical, with the cul- 
minating points nearer the abrupt northern side than the more gentle 
southern slope. This lack of symmetry is particularly noticeable in 
the Kigluaik Mountains, but is not so marked in the Bendeleben 
Mountains, for in the latter the line joining the highest points is 
almost symmetrically placed. 

As has already been noted, the Darby Mountains may be considered 
as a southward continuation of the Kigluaik and Bendeleben moun- 
tains. This range rises to an average height of 2,500 to 3,000 feet 
and has features practically the same as those in the Kigluaik- 
Bendeleben Kange already noted. The western slopes rise abruptly 
from a low plain not more than 400 feet above sea level, so that the 
relative relief is strong. The eastern slope is somewhat similar to the 
south side of the Kigluaik-Bendeleben Mountains, where the transi- 
tion to the plateau province is not weU marked, and the two grade into 
each other with no sharp luie of demarcation. 

The vaUeys in both these ranges have recently been occupied by 
alpine glaciers. These vaUeys are separated only by narrow ridges, 

1 Collier, A. J., and others, The gold placers of parts of Seward Peninsula, Alaska: Bull. U. S. Geol. 
Survey No. 328, 1908, p. 46. 



CLIMATE. 15 

and the knifelike character of many of the divides is perhaps the most 
striking feature of the mountains. Broad amphitheaters with nearly 
perpendicular cliffs rising a thousand feet or more at their heads are 
common in the mountain province and add much to the grandeur of 
the scenery. (See PL III.) 

The position and physical features of the mountains have an impor- 
tant bearing on the water supply. As is explained more fully on 
pages 31-32, the mountains receive a much heavier precipitation than 
the lower areas and therefore yield a greater amount of water. Not 
only is the precipitation greater, but the snow stored in the deep gla- 
cial cirques maintains a more constant run-off throughout the summer 
than is afforded by areas where the stream flow is directly dependent 

upon the rainfall. 

CLIMATE. 

By F. F. Henshaw and G. L. Parker. 
GENERAL FEATURES. 

The meteorologic records of Alaska as a whole indicate a great 
diversity of climatic conditions. Abbe ^ in his discussion of climate 
in Alaska shows very clearly this diversity and outlines systemati- 
cally the general relations of temperature and precipitation between 
certain geographic subdivisions, termed '^ provinces.'' Seward Penin- 
sula lies between the ' 'Bering Sea coast climatic province" and the 
"Arctic coast climatic province,'' as designated by Abbe. His 
analysis shows that the climate in this region is subject to consider- 
able local variation, and data obtained since 1906 confirm his conclu- 
sion. The records also show a greater local difference in precipita- 
tion than in temperature, which is no doubt due chiefly to the fact 
that two mountain ranges, the Kigluaik and the Bendeleben, inter- 
cept a large percentage of the moisture in the winds blowing from 
Bering Sea. The rainfall in the portion of the peninsula lying north 
of the mountains is similar to that in the northern arid province; and 
the rainfall in the southern portion, though less, is not greatly at 
variance with the amount contributed to the Bering coast. The pre- 
cipitation in the mountainous areas, however, is considerably greater, 
as is shown principally by the run-off of streams that have their 
source in the mountains, and to a less extent by actual rainfall 
observations. Specific acknowledgment is made to the Weather 
Bureau of the Department of Agriculture for many of the instru- 
mental records included in this report. 

In the following pages an attempt has been made to collect avail- 
able data concerning temperature and precipitation. The accom- 
panying tables summarize the records made in the region from 1877 
to the close of 1910 and serve to show, in compact form, certain gen- 
eral characteristics that are considered in greater detail later. 

I Abbe, Cleveland, jr., Prof. Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No. 45, 1906, pp. 189-200. 



16 



SUKFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAKD PENINSULA. 



The following statement gives briefly the climatic conditions exist- 
ing in this area during the years 1899-1906: 

1899. July, 4 rainy days; August, 14 rainy days; September, 14 rainy days; re- 
corded at Teller. 

1900. June and July, warm and dry, tundra fires common; August to end of Septem- 
ber, rain. 

1901. June to August, inclusive, cold and foggy with some rain; September and 
October, usually clear and cold with one or two hard rains of a few days' duration. 

1902. June, dry; July, 10 rainy days; August, 6 rainy days; September, 3 rainy 
days; recorded at Teller. 

1903. Summer warm; little rain, but considerable fog. 

1904. June, dry. Rainy days as follows: Ten in July, 10 in August, 10 in Septem- 
ber; temperature moderate. 

1905. Very wet and cold the whole season. 

1906. Very warm and dry; tundra fires common. Maximum temperature recorded, 
85° F. 

Summary of meteorologic observations at Nome, by years, 1907 to 1910, inclusive. 



Record. 



1907 


1908 


1909 


1910 


16.69 


11.17 


9.46 


17.47 


76.65 


62.50 


44.25 


39.40 


69° 


78° 


70° 


62° 


-32° 


-32° 


-33° 


-38° 


30. 42° 


31. 55° 


30.13° 


28.79° 


17.64° 


18.88° 


17.17° 


15.89° 


29.86 


29.78 


29.87 


29.82 


148 


122 


163 


150 


47 


49 


55 


40 


170 


195 


147 


175 


103 


84 


70 


114 



for 
period. 



Total precipitation, rain and melted snow (inches) 

Total snowfall (inclies) 

Maximum temperature ( ° F.) 

Minimum temperature (° F.) 

Mean of daily maximum temperatures (° F.) , 

Mean of daily minimum temperatures (° F.) 

Mean barometer (inches) 

Number of clear days 

Number of partly cloudy days 

Number of cloudy days 

Number of days with rain or snow 



13.70 
55.70 



30. 22° 

17.40° 

29.83 

146 

48 

172 



Summary of mean monthly precipitation recorded at stations on or near Seward Peninsula 

previous to 1906. 



Station and years. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


St. Michael 1877-1886 a 

Port Clarence 1895-96 & 

Omilak mine 1884-85 c 


0.85 
.83 
.40 


0.24 
.01 
.32 


0.52 

-.11 


0.36 
.18 
.07 


1.27 

.02 
.02 


1.45 
1.33 


2.53 
.50 


3.27 
1.30 


4.02 
1.10 


1.70 
.08 
.23 


1.15 
.04 
.45 


0.75 
.02 
.18 















a St. Michael is located on the southern shore of Norton Sound, about 120 miles southeast of Nome. The 
means were computed by Abbe (Prof. Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No. 46, pp. 189-200) from records extending 
over a period of 7 years and 6 mouths. Mean annual precipitation, 18.11 inches. 

b Port Clarence lies on the western coast of Seward Peninsula and south of Bering Strait. The data are 
taken from a report on the introduction of domestic reindeer in Alaska, by Sheldon Jackson, published 
in 1896. Mean precipitation per year for the period, 5.58 inches. 

c The Omilak mine is located in the eastern part of Seward Peninsula, about 35 miles north of Golofnin 
Sound. The values are taken from Abbe's tables, mentioned above. 



TEMPERATURE. 

Practically the only temperature records for this region that extend 
over a long period of years are those made at Nome by Arthur Gibson, 
a volunteer observer of the Weather Bureau. The results of these 
observations are given in full in the following tables and the yearly 
average has been summarized in a preceding table. These records 
are of special value in indicating the length of the open season and 
the range of temperature. 



CLIMATE. 

Daily mean temperature {°F.) at Nome for 1907. 



17 



Day. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


1 


23.5 
29.5 
14.0 
25.5 
15.5 

25.0 
24.5 
11.5 

-8.0 
4.0 

20.5 
25.0 
24.0 
18.5 
16.0 

- .5 
-7.5 
-20.0 

- 6.0 
11.5 

11.5 
1.5 
23.0 
21.5 
23.5 

14.0 
13.5 
10.5 
4.5 
.5 
.0 


8.5 

- 1.0 

- 5.5 

- 2.0 
-11.5 

-13.5 

- 1.5 
-10.0 
-15.0 
-13.0 

-14.0 
-25.0 
-20.5 
-19.5 
-27.5 

-22.0 
-18.5 
-22.5 
-15.5 
-22.5 

-18.0 

- 6.0 

- 1.5 
12.5 
25.0 

24.5 
17.5 
6.5 


9.5 

1.5 

20.5 

24.0 

2.3.0 

20.5 
28.5 
26.0 
25.5 
29.5 

29.0 
21.5 
7.0 

- 4.5 
-5.0 

- 4.0 
15.0 
18.5 

-5.0 

- 9.0 

-15.5 

-17.0 

-13.5 

16.0 

10.0 

-8.0 
-10.0 
-14.5 
-18.5 
-19.5 

- 6.5 


- 0.5 
15.0 
13.5 
12.5 
13.0 

- 0.5 

.0 

- 2.0 
10.0 

3.0 

15.0 
26.0 
33.5 
29.0 
17.5 

13.5 
5.5 
7.0 
8.0 

18.5 

24.0 
26.0 
33.0 
33.0 
35.5 

37.5 
37.0 
34.0 
36.0 
36.0 


37.5 
37.0 
40.0 
37.5 
35.5 

33.5 
38.5 
43.0 
43.5 
39.5 

26.0 
20.5 
22.5 
28.0 
26.0 

25.5 
30.0 
31.0 
31.0 
32.0 

36.0 
37.5 
43.5 
39.0 
36.5 

34.0 
29.5 

34.5 
36.0 
40.5 
38.5 


41.0 
45.0 
42.5 
44.0 
41.0 

46.0 
41.0 
38.0 
52.0 
50.5 

48.0 
51.0 
57.5 
50.5 
42.0 

42.5 
43.5 
45.0 
40.0 
42.0 

45.0 
43.5 
52.5 
52.5 
49.0 

47.0 

42.5 
41.5 
44.0 


45.5 
48.5 
44.5 
46.0 
49.0 

50.0 
46.5 
46.0 
51.5 
56.5 

57.5 
49.0 
49.5 
51.0 
52.0 

51.5 
49.0 
46.5 
46.5 
49.5 

49.0 
48.5 
54.0 
53.0 
51.0 

52.0 
47.0 
46.0 
51.5 
56.0 
57.5 


54.0 
54.5 
54.5 
54.0 
48.0 

44.0 
52.0 
58.0 
50.5 
50.0 

54.5 
57.5 
69.5 
56.0 
53.5 

50.5 
48.5 
51.0 
48.5 
54.0 

53.0 

48.5 
42.0 
38.5 
40.0 

45.5 
45.5 
44.0 
47.0 
45.5 
41.0 


40.5 
41.0 
37.0 
41.5 
42.0 

38.5 
41.0 
44.5 
46.5 
47.5 

46.5 
42.0 
39.5 
40.0 
45.5 

38.0 
39.0 
36.0 
36.5 
35.5 

43.5 
38.0 
36.0 
37.5 
39.0 

45.5 
42.0 
45.0 
45.0 
42.0 


40.0 
33.0 
25.5 
26.5 
25.5 

26.0 
32.5 
33.0 
24.0 
22.0 

26.0 
26.0 
19.0 
21.0 
23.0 

23.5 
26.5 
23.0 
27.0 
20.0 

27.0 
27.0 
25.0 
29.0 
34.0 

29.5 

21.5 

19.5 

9.5 

7.5 

7.0 


11.5 
13.0 
3.5 
6.0 
8.5 

6.0 
2.5 

- 3.0 

- 0.5 
8.5 

18.5 
19.0 
29.5 
28.0 
33.5 

23.0 
20.0 
19.5 
13.5 
9.5 

14.0 
6.'5 
2.5 
4.5 
-3.0 

- 4.5 

- 4.5 
1.5 

.5 

- 3.5 


4.5 


2 


18 


3 


17 


4 


15 




10.5 


6 


16.5 


7 


18 


8 


20.5 


9 


17.5 


30 


5.0 


11 


- 8.5 


12 


-10 


13 


- 9 


14 


— 1.5 


15 


13.5 


16 


29 


17 


30 


IS 


23.6 


19 


17.6 


20 


7.5 


21 


6.5 


22 


6 


23 


1 


24. 


- 2 


25 


— 8 


26 


—10.5 


27 


-10 


28 


-13.5 


29 


—17 


30 


—17 


31 


—25 






Mean 


11.9 


-7.6 


6.6 


19.0 


34.3 


45.6 


50.0 


49.8 


41.1 


24.5 


9.6 


4.6 



Daily mean temperature {°F.) at Nome for 1908. 



Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


-24.5 


6 


24.6 


8 


37 


36 


67.5 


45 


46 


32.5 


11.5 


-17.5 


7 


31 


- 0.5 


35.5 


44.5 


65.5 


46.5 


41 


35 


13.5 


- 2 


15.5 


20 


- 1.5 


32 


46.6 


49 


45.5 


43.5 


36.5 


5 


4 


21.5 


4.5 


- 1.5 


29.5 


48 


49.5 


46.5 


41 


38.5 


- 3.5 


- 8 


22 


5.5 


4.5 


29.5 


41 


48.5 


47.5 


37 


39.5 


- 2.5 


-16.5 


22 


17 


10 


29.5 


36.6 


45.5 


42 


39.5 


29 


2.5 


-24. 5 


10 


7 


6.5 


27 


34.5 


46 


41 


35 


24 


6 


-28.5 


9.5 


- 0.5 


11 


28.5 


34.5 


60 


41.5 


38.5 


28 


7 


-24 


21.5 


- 8 


17 


32 


39 


49.5 


46.5 


41.5 


30.5 


6 


-14 


18.5 





18.6 


30 


36.5 


51 


55.5 


39.5 


29 


- 3 


6 


21 


6.5 


10.6 


28.5 


36 


46.5 


52.5 


33.6 


26 


- 6.5 


15.5 


26 


4.5 


8 


30 


36.5 


46 


52 


34 


27.5 


3 


7.5 


26 





11.5 


30 


42 


51.5 


50 


35 


22 


3.5 


3.5 


23 


- 0.6 


8 


38.5 


43 


52.5 


48.5 


33 


17 


4 


13 


25 


2 


21.5 


38 


39 


53 


48.5 


36 


29 


13.5 


19.5 


18.5 


- 2.6 


19.5 


43 


44.5 


58.5 


48.5 


41 


20.5 


15.5 


4.5 


21 


- 2.5 


8.5 


45 


45 


58 


49.5 


41 


16 


10 


-17. 5 


12 


- 8.5 


6.6 


46 


40 


64 


46.5 


35.5 


18 


11 


-27.5 


6 


-16 


14 


50.6 


44 


57.5 


47 


34.5 


28.5 


9 


-27 


8 


-20 


23.5 


44.6 


51 


56 


47.5 


32 


31 


9 


-18 


8 


-20 


20 


45 


46 


50 


49.5 


30 


28 


3 


- 8 


- 8.5 


- 6.5 


16 


43.5 


42.5 


62 


49 


31 


24.5 


0.6 


13 


-19 


17 


8.5 


44 


48.5 


48.5 


48 


29.6 


12 


2 


15 


- 8.5 


29.5 


8.6 


40.5 


59.6 


46 


47 


28 


11 


12.5 


21 


14.5 


31 


16.5 


42.5 


63.5 


48.5 


44.5 


33 


26.5 


27.5 


24 


17.6 


29.5 


11 


46.5 


61.6 


47.5 


47.6 


33.5 


28 


28 


23.5 


20 


19 


18 


43 


65.5 


48 


46.5 


30 


30 


27.5 


26.5 


16.5 


17 


34 


40 


61 


46 


47.5 


30 


28.5 


24 


25 


20.5 


13.6 


37.5 


38 


57 


48.5 


46 


3a 6 


23.5 


26.5 


21 




22.5 


36.5 


41 


65.5 


48.5 


43.5 


32.6 


21 


28.5 


12.5 




9.5 




34 




48 


47 




17.5 




.08 


13.8 


7.3 


13.6 


37.6 


46.2 


51.2 


47.2 


36.5 


26.1 


9.8 



Dec. 



29 
25.5 
27 
31 

28 

30 
28 
25 
26 
26 

18.5 
13 

5 

2.5 

1 

13.6 
22 
13 
10 
6.6 

13 

13 
9 

7.5 
2.5 

- 7.6 
-12 
0.6 
7.5 
22.5 
12 



14.4 



63851°— wsp 314—13- 



18 



SUEFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 





Daily mean temperature {°F.) at Nome for 1909. 








Day. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July.o 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


1 


-5 

7.5 

6 
18 
22.5 

25 

21.5 

21.5 

27 
28 

19.5 
15.5 
2 

- 9.5 
-14 

-10.5 

-11 

-15 

-10 

-17.5 

- 9 

- 3 

- 1 

- 7 

- 6.5 

-18.5 

-23 

-15.5 

-13 

-18.5 

-16.5 


1.5 
12.5 
16.5 
12 

- 2 

3 
2 

- 9.5 
8.5 

10 

12 
4.5 
8.5 
8.5 
7 

6.5 
6.5 

- 9.5 
-17.5 

- 5.5 

- 2.5 

- 6.5 
7.5 
6.0 

- 7.0 

- 8.5 
-16.5 
-10 


- 9 
-15 
-18.5 
-18.5 
-18.5 

-12.5 
3 
10 

- 5 
-12 

4 

18.5 
11.5 
13 
18 

18.5 
12.5 
0.5 
2.5 
1.5 

2.5 
-10 
-12.5 
-14.5 
-25.5 

-16 
-15 

2 

9 



- 4 


0.5 
10 
5.5 

- 1.5 

- 2.5 

1.5 

5 
16 
19 
18 

21.5 

20 

18 

16 

13.5 

16.5 

10 

19.5 

34 

36 

36.5 

31 

31.5 

33.5 

28 

30 
29 
27 
30 
35 


36.5 

38 

36.5 

35 

33.5 

28.5 

25.5 

29 

32 

32 

29 

28 

30.5 

34.5 

39.5 

37 

37.5 

35 

38 

47 

46 

39 

44 

39.5 

32 

32 

32 

31.5 

33.5 

34.5 

36.5 


34 
35 
39 
45 
40.5 

45 
43 

43 
42 
39.5 

38 

38 

45 

41.5 

40.5 

49.5 

60.5 

51 

46 

45.5 

46.5 

37.5 

43.5 

41 

42 

42 

41.5 

42 

41.5 

40 


; 


55.5 

55 

46.5 

50 

43.5 

48 
47.5 
49 5 
53.5 
45.5 

47.5 
47.5 
48.5 

54 
62 

57.5 

51.5 

48 

50 

53.5 

58.5 

57.5 

50.5 

51 

49.5 

48.5 

47 

49 

48 

46.5 

43 


43 

39.5 

42 

49.5 

56 

54 
51.5 

48.5 

47 

47.5 

45 
42 
43 
45 
37.5 

36.5 

37.5 

32 

34 

32 

38 

40.5 

39 

40 

36 

32.5 

35 

31 

29.5 
26 


28 

24 

26.5 

28.5 

25 

28 

29.5 

34 

35.5 

29.5 

27.5 
26.5 
21.5 
20.5 
22.5 

23 

24 

27.5 

26.5 

26 

24.5 
29.5 
33.5 
34.5 
35 

33 

29.5 

26 

26 
27 
22 


19 

17 

19 

15.5 

14 

25.5 

29 

28 

25.5 

24.5 

26 

31 

29 

25.5 

24.5 

23.5 

11 

13 

20 

13 

12 

6.5 

8 
15.5 

9.5 

3 

- 6.5 

0.5 

-0.5 

7 


7.5 


2 


10.5 


3 


11 


4 


14.5 


5 


9 


6 


6 5 


7 


11 


8 


0.5 


Q 


6 


10 


3 


U 


-12.5 


12 


-16.5 


13 


-3.5 


14 





]5 


-6.5 


16 


- 5 


17 


— 3.5 


18 


6.5 


19 


14 


20 


1 


21 


— 8.5 


22 


-17 


28 


-23 


24 


-18 


25 


3 


26 


23 


27 


23 


28 


-4.5 


29 


-15.5 


30 


13 


31 


18.5 










Mean 


- .32 


1.4 


- 2.6 


19.6 


34.9 


42.3 


52.6 


50.4 


40.4 


27.6 


16.3 


1.5 



o Daily values for July are not available. 
Daily mean temperature i°F.) at Nome for 1910. 



Day. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec.a 


1 


21 
13.5 
3.5 
16 
21 

4.5 
- 8 
-22 
-7.5 
-11.5 

-14.5 

6 

8 
22.5 
11.5 

6.5 
-10 
-20.5 
-20.5 
-15 

6 

9 
-10.5 
-26 
-23 

-24 
-25 
-28 
-23 
-23 
-24.5 


-32 
-31 
-13.5 
3.5 

- 2.5 

- 4.5 

6.5 

18 
21.5 

7.5 
-13.5 

- 3.5 
1 

5 

11 
19 
9 
10 

7 

8.5 
2 

2.5 
0.5 

7.5 

11.5 
11 

- 7.5 


- 5 
2.5 

- 5 
-10.5 

- 7 

- 6.5 

- 2 

- 5.5 
6 

6 

2.5 

- 5 


18 
26 

20.5 
3.5 
16 
25 
26 

26 
21.5 
18.5 
16.5 
9 

8 
5 

- 0.5 
-11 
-13 

5 


17 
6 
0.5 

- 8 

- 9 

- 9 

- 5 
1 

- 8 

- 6.5 

- 8 

- 8 

- 2.5 

- 1.5 
0.5 

- 1 

8.5 
5.5 
7.0 
7.5 

9.0 

8.5 

19.5 

22.5 

27.5 

15 
9 
15 
28 
35.5 


28.5 
16 ~ 
18.5 
28.5 
31.5 

23.5 
26.5 
33.5 
34.5 
31 

26.5 

24 

25.5 

30 

36.5 

37.5 

33.5 

34 

35 

32 

34 
35 
37 
45 
44.5 

44.5 

35 

32.5 

34.5 

35.5 

35.5 


38.5 

42.5 

39.5 

37 

37 

41.5 

41.5 

37 

35.5 

33.5 

36 

34 

35.5 

35.5 

36 

37 

33.5 

38 

40.5 

40.5 

40 

40 

38 

43.5 

49.5 

42 

47.5 

48 

48.5 

51 


48 

51.5 

51.5 

47 

44.5 

42.5 

41 

43.5 

39.5 

42.5 

44.5 

45.5 

47.5 

45 

44.5 

47 

43.5 

41.5 

43.5 

48.5 

47.5 

49 

48.5 

48.5 

46.5 

45.5 

60.5 

45 

45 

44.5 

47 


46 

47 

41 

39.5 

42.5 

44 
45 
43 
46 
51 

53 
51 

48.5 

46 

48 

42.5 

47.5 

43 

45.5 

51 

51 

56.5 

52 

48 

49.5 

50 

55.5 

57 

52 

50 

63.5 


53.5 

51 

51 

46 

44.5 

53 

65.5 

60.4 

52.5 

49 

46 

48.5 

48 

44.5 

43.5 

43.5 

34.5 

33 

35 

39 

38.5 

44 

45 

44.5 

45.5 

43.5 
43 
44 
40.5 
34 



33.5 

30 

26.5 

29 

27.6 

28.5 

30 

33.5 

36 

35 

34 

36.5 

34.5 

30.5 

29 

30 

37.5 

36.5 

33.5 

28.6 

24.5 

21 

14.5 

15.5 

16 

26 

30 

23 

20 

21.5 

29 


29 

34 

29 

28.5 

20.5 

19 
16 
26 
26 
26 

25.6 
12 

1 

0.5 

8 

8 
23.5 

27.5 

30 

28 

20 
10 
9.5 
11.5 
11 

17.5 

26.6 

25.5 

30 

26.6 




2 




3 




4 




5 




6 





8 




9 




]0 




11 




12 ^ 

13 .... 




14 




15 




16 




17 




18 




19 




20 




21 




22 




23 




24 

25 





26 




27 




28 




29 




30 




31 










Mean 


- 6.0 


1.9 


6.1 


5.9 


32.2 


39.9 


45.8 


48.3 


44.8 


28.4 


20.1 


0.56 



• Daily values for December are not available. 



CLIMATE. 



19 



PRECIPITATION. 

When stream-gaging work was begun in the spring of 1906 it was 
necessary to obtain records of the rainfall at several places in order 
to find out the average precipitation over the general region. For 
this purpose precipitation stations were established at Nome, on the 
southern coast of the peninsula; at Salmon Lake, about 40 miles 
inland, south of the Kigluaik Mountains; at claim ^'No. 15 above," 
on Ophir Creek, near Council, in the eastern part of the region; and 
at Deering, on the northern coast of the peninsula. No records, 
however, were kept at Deering, and therefore all the data procured 
in 1906 were obtained from the area south of the mountains. In 
1907 rain gages were placed at Black Point, near the head of Nome 
River; at the forks of Grand Central River, in the heart of the 
Kigluaik Mountains; and at Shelton and Taylor, north of the 
mountains. In 1908 the scope of the observations was extended 
and rainfall stations were established from the southern to the 
northern coast of the peninsula. Additional gages were placed at 
Iron Creek, near the east end of the Kigluaik Mountains; on Budd 
Creek, a tributary of American River; and at Candle, near the coast 
of Kotzebue Sound. In 1909 records were taken at Dahl instead of 
at Shelton. These stations were established by the Geological Sur- 
vey and the equipment was furnished by the Weather Bureau. All 
records were kept by volunteer observers. 

The location of these stations is shown on Plate I (in pocket) and 
other information in regard to them is summarized in the following 

table. 

Seward Peninsula precipitation stations. 



station. 


Desig- 
nation 

on 
Plate I. 


Lati- 
tude. 


\Zt 


Eleva- 
tion 

above 
sea 

level 

(feet). 


Observers. 


Date of 
records.* 




A 
B 

c 

D 

E 

F 

G 
H 
I 

J 
K 


64 30 
64 59 

64 51 
64 58 

64 54 

65 00 

65 L3 
65 22 
65 42 

65 38 
65 55 


• r 

165 24 

163 39 

165 16 
165 14 

164 56 

164 39 

164 48 
164 41 

164 48 

165 23 
161 66 


40 
200 

575 
690 

445 

290 

60 
280 
550 

320 
20 


Arthur Gibson 


1906-910. 


Ophir 


C. Arnold, H. Leland, and 
W. H. Sirdevan. 

F. F. Miller and George Peters 

Cornelius Edmunds, Fred 
Walford, and P. B. Chap- 
man, 

J. P. Samuelson and M. 
Donworth. 

Clyde Hager and George 
Lorimer. 

Lars Gunderson 


1906, 1909, 1910. 

1908,1909,1910. 
1907,1908,1909. 

1906, 1907. 
1908,1909. 
1907 1908 


Black Point 

Grand Central 

Salmon Lake 

Iron Creek 


Shelton 


Dahl 


J. A. White 


1909' 1910. 
1907 1908 


Taylor 


A. E. Edgtvet and A. G. 

Schraeder, 
J. P. Samuelson 


Budd Creek 


1908. 


Candle. 


J. E. Fox, Ward Estey, and 
R. S. Dimmick. 


1908,1909,1910. 





a The only continuous records available are those at Nome, which extend from June 14, 1906, to date. 
The records at the other stations, in most part, were kept only during the summer months. 

The results of the observations made at these stations have been 
tabulated below in order to show both the daily and the monthly 



20 



SUEFACE WATER' SUPPLY OF SEWASD PENINSULA. 



precipitation. The tables of daily precipitation are of particular 
value, for they permit direct comparison with the daily discharge 
measurements of the streams given on pages 68-249. (See fig. 1.) 




JUNE JULV AUG. SEPT. 

Figure 1.— Hydrograph of typical streams and rainfall stations on Seward Peninsula for 1908. 

The summaries by years of monthly precipitation are important in 
showing the local variation in different parts of the peninsula and 
the difference in the precipitation of successive years. 



CLIMATE. 21 

Daily precipitation^ in inches, at stations in Seward Peninsula, 1906 to 1910, inclusive. 



Day. 


July, 1906. 


August. 


September. 


Octo- 
ber. 


Novem- 
ber. 


Decem- 
ber. 


Nome. 


Salmon 
Lake. 


Ophir. 


Nome. 


Salmon 
Lake. 


Ophir. 


Nome. 


Salmon 
Lake. 


Nome. 


1 






' 










0.14 




0.20 
.12 




2 












Trace, 


0.04 




3 . . 




0.12 
.35 
.35 

.10 
.17 
2.32 
.31 
.25 














4 








0.17 
.07 

.23 

.28 


0.01 
.05 

.03 












5. ... . . 




0.02 
.23 

1.30 
.19 


0.07 

*"V*4i" 
Trace. 







0.14 






6 












7 


a 0.52 
.37 
.92 
.14 










0.17 


g 






.01 








g 


.29 


.08 
.12 

.01 




.13 






10 










11 


.86 
.01 
.02 
.01 
.02 

.02 
















12 .. 


.04 







.10 












13 




.12 
.01 










14.. . 




.35 








.03 


.09 






15 














16 






















17 








.10 




.14 
.16 
.23 

.28 

.04 


.01 

.28 

1.06 

.99 

.55 
.16 
.03 








18 






.01 










19 










.31 
.31 








20 










.57 








21 




.25 


.01 
.01 
.60 
.25 
.01 


.80 








22 














23 


.08 
.27 
.04 


■"".'ss" 


.22 


.50 


.22 










24 






.74 


25 


.04 

.37 
.30 

.14 
.15 


.01 

.78 
.23 


.05 

.40 
.32 










.24 


26 






.23 
.34 




.08 


27 






.01 








28.! !! 














29 




















.38 


30 






















31 






















.30 


























Total. 
Snowfall, in 
inches . 


2.38 


4.92 


3.57 


2.50 


3.33 


1.91 


1.02 


3.26 


.93 
(0 


.32 
(0 


1.91 
20.8 























Day. 


Jan- 

ffi' 


Feb- 
ruary. 


March. 


April. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Nome. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Salm- 
on 
Lake. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Salm- 
on 
Lake. 


Grand 
Central. 


1 


























2 


0.13 

























3 




0.52 




0.05 
.03 
.39 

.08 
.12 
















4 


.40 


















5 




.13 











0.03 

.48 
.30 
.01 


0.12 

.35 
.13 
.14 


0.54 

■"■'." io' 


dOA2 


6 


.95 




0.05 
.08 


d0.07 
d.ll 




d 88 


7 .. 




.36 




d 14 


8 






d.24 


9 




















10 


.23 




.87 
















.10 
.12 

"".'io' 

.10 




11 












.03 
.02 
.07 
.01 


.02 
.05 
.07 
.04 
.02 


C.12 


12 


















e 16 


13 


.07 
.26 
.28 
















e.07 


14 








.09 
.04 








<.13 


15 














Ml 



a Total, Jiily 1-7. 

b Total, Aug. &-7. 

cMost of the precroitation for October and November was in the form of snow; the snowfall was not 
measured. During June there was no measurable precipitation at any of the stations. 

d Estimated by comparison of stations. 

< July 10 to 16 the total was 0.66; July 17 to 25 the totalwas 1.49. 

These amounts were distributed in proportion to the amount of rainfall at Black Point and Salmon 
Lake. 



22 



SUEFACE WATEK SUPPLY OE SEWAKD PENINSULA. 



Daily precipitation, in inches, at stations in Seward Peninsula, 1906 to 1910, inclusive — 

Continued. 



Day. 


Jan- 
uary, 
1907. 


Feb- 
ruary. 


March. 


April. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Nome. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Salm- 
on 
Lake. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Salm- 
on 
Lake. 


Grand 
Central. 


16 














a 0.26 
a. 06 
0.56 
a. 21 
a. 34 


6 0.46 


0.05 


0.07 




cO.07 


17 






0.57 
.09 






0.08 
.31 
.08 
.21 




18 










.63 
.32 
.38 


.20 
.06 
.05 

.04 


.12 
.04 
.16 

.28 


■"a26' 

.26 


c.VA 


19 










c. 04 


20 


0.32 










C.40 


21 










C.58 


22 




















23 










0.04 
.04 
.24 


.02 
.03 
.20 

.27 


.02 
.08 
.22 

.69 


"■■.■26' 

.34 


.22 
.47 
.04 


.16 


"""."is' 


C.18 


24 




0.56 
.30 

.41 
.04 
.15 


.75 
.08 


0.03 
.07 


C.17 


25 






26 










27 


















28 
























29 
























30 




















.17 


...... ^. 


.08 


31 
















































Total. . 

Snowfall, 

in inches . 


2.64 
25.2 


1.46 
13.9 


3.37 
28.8 


.10 


1.12 


1.31 


2.62 


2.31 


2.08 


1.94 


1.79 


3.61 























July, 1907, cont. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Shel- 
ton. 


Tay- 
lor. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Salmon 
Lake. 


Grand 
Cen- 
tral. 


Shel- 
ton. 


Tay- 
lor. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Salmon 
Lake. 


1 




















0.10 




2 








0.17 
.02 
.01 





0.20 
.09 
.05 


0.01 








3 








.15 
.05 


'"6.09' 


0.14 
.02 


.06 
.16 




4 








0.34 


5 










6 


















.10 


"""."i4" 

.20 

.36 

1.40 

.33 

.07 


.10 


7 





















8 . 


















.07 
.17 
.61 

.08 


.10 


g 


















.45 


10 


















.35 


11 












.02 
.02 
.08 
.10 


" '."6i' 
.10 

.03 
.09 

:1^ 

.05 
.07 

.03 

■"":i2" 

.03 

.20 
.07 


Tr. 
Tr. 
.03 
.07 
Tr. 

Tr. 
.15 
.13 


.60 


12 


Tr. 






.09 
.04 
.10 
.56 

.50 
.15 
.02 


""0.'46" 


.17 


13 




6.i9 
.11 
.04 

.38 
.07 
.01 
.05 
.22 

.06 




14 


0.01 
.01 

.01 




.04 
.06 


.07 
.22 




15 




16 


.39 
.65 
.40 


.70 

.83 
.40 
.02 

.48 
.12 
.02 
.20 
.14 

.50 
.20 
.07 
1.90 
1.03 
.02 




17. . 








18 












19 












20 




0.14 

Tr. 
Tr. 
.29 
.08 

Tr. 


.15 
.06 


.32 
.17 










21 


.08 


.22 
.01 
.01 
.07 
.02 

.08 
.03 


.03 


.04 




22 




23 


.05 
.53 
.04 


.01 
.11 
.02 

1.02 
.20 
.07 
.05 
.07 












24 


.22 
.03 

.30 
.22 
.06 
.05 
.10 


.10 

.65 
.15 

' ""."36' 
.12 








25 


.02 
"".06 


.05 
.06 




26 


,15 


27 






28 










29. . 






.08 



Tr. 
.05 
Tr. 


.01 






30 




.12 
.03 






31 


























TotaL.. 


.71 


.66 


2.68 


2.85 


3.65 


7.19 


1.33 


.96 


1.41 


3.26 


2.26 



a Estimated by comparison of stations. 
b Total June 1 to 16, inclusive. 

c July 10 to 18 the total was 0.66; July 17 to 25 the total was 1.49. 

These amounts were distributed in proportion to the amount of rainfall at Black Point and Salmon 
Lake. 



CUMATE. 



23 



Daily jyredpitation, in inches, at stations in Seward Peninsula, 1906 to 1910, inclusive- 

Continued. 



Day. 


September, 1907, contd. 


Octo- 
ber. 


Novem- 
ber. 


Decem- 
ber. 


Jan- 
uary, 
1908. 


Feb- 
ruary. 


March. 


April. 


May. 


Grand 
Cen- 
tral. 


Shel- 
ton. 


Taylor. 


Nome. 


Nome. 


1 


0.05 


0.01 


0.03 
.01 
Tr. 
.33 
Tr. 

.06 




0.04 








0.16 
.23 
.23 






2 










0.06 


3 .. 


.04 
.32 
.04 


■"■.■62' 

.01 














4 






0.06 




0.09 
.15 






6..-. 





.01 


.09 
.08 






6 










7 -. 


.07 

.11 

1.36 

1.96 

.66 
.03 


0.02 














8 


.01 

■■■■.■26' 

.12 



.01 

.27 
.28 








.04 
.03 








9 
















10 












0.02 


.04 


11 
















12 


.01 










.02 


.06 







13 














14 


.05 
.08 






















15 





.17 
Tr. 






.02 
.11 


0.03 
.03 









.09 


16 














17 








.01 


.08 








18 






Tr. 




.05 
.01 
.03 

.02 










19 




















20 






Tr. 








.11 
.14 








21 ... . 


.03 


.06 












22 




.04 





.06 
.19 






23 












.13 
.03 
.16 

.05 








24 




Tr. 




.05 
.05 










25 


O.05 
0.21 






.10 


.06 






26 














27 




















28 




.04 














.03 






29 




















30 
























31 
















































Total... 
Snowfall, 


5.03 


.47 


1.17 


.16 


.06 


.30 
6.75 


.43 
8.9 


.76 
11.95 


1.19 
3.1 


.02 
.3 


.19 



















June, 1908. 


July. 


August. 


Day. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Shel- 
ton. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Grand 
Cen- 
tral. 


Iron 
Creek. 


Shel- 
ton. 


Tay- 
lor. 


Budd 
Creek. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


1 


























2 









0.08 
.13 


"'6.' is' 


b 0*. 10 
b.30 






Tr. 
0.01 
Tr. 






0.01 


3 






0.18 
.02 
.12 

.02 
.10 


0.06 


0.18 




0.02 

.72 
.13 

.43 


.04 


4 


0.30 
.09 

.14 
.30 
.07 


'6.'i2' 

.14 
.25 
.06 


.93 


6 












.23 


6 
















.05 


7 . ... 


















8 




















9 






















10 























.04 

.20 
.23 
.22 


.01 


11 








.37 


.19 
.04 


.25 
.52 


.09 


.44 
.03 


.11 
....... 


0.10 
.08 


.34 


12 








.25 


13 










.10 


14 






















.03 


15..., 






















.03 


.04 


16 










Tr. 






.02 






.01 


17 






















18 








Tr. 
.04 
.21 
















.05 


19 








.05 
.12 














.33 


20 










.11 











.02 



Total estimated. 



b Estimated; gage installed July S. 



24 



SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily precipitations, in inches, at stations in Seward Peninsula, 1906 to 1910, inclusive- 
Continued. 





June, 1908. 


July. 


August. 


Day. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Shel- 
ton. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Grand 
Cen- 
tral. 


Iron 
Creek. 


Shel- 
ton. 


Tay- 
lor. 


Budd 
Creek. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


21 












0.15 




0.01 
.14 










22 












Tr. 
0.11 




0.07 
.41 
.05 


16 


23 








0.01 
Tr. 

.02 






0.06 


.37 


24 








0.05 




.09 


25 


















02 


26 








.04 
















27 
















Tr. 








28 


















0.30 




....... 


29 









.07 
.80 
.37 


.06 
.82 

.78 












...... 


30 








1.20 
1.50 


.79 
.56 


.10 
.40 


'""."45" 


.21 






31 








.37 


.34 












Total 


0.90 


0.S7 


0.44 


2.10 


2.30 


4.02 


i.e; 


1.32 


.68 


.69 


2.92 


3.42 





August, 1908, contd. 


September. 


Octo- 
ber. 


Day. 


Grand 

Cen- 
tral. 


Iron 
Creek. 


Tay- 
lor. 


Budd 
Creek. 


Can- 
dle.a 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Grand 
Cen- 
tral. 


Iron 
Creek. 


Tay- 
lor. 


Can- 
dle. 


Nome. 


1 


0.13 
















Tr. 








2 










0.16 




0.16 


0.14 


Tr. 
0.16 




3 








0.18 




05 


4 . . 


.52 
1.70 

.20 


0.42 
.13 




0.25 
.35 














05 


5 




















6 


.44 












.09 


.04 




7 


















8 


























9 












Tr. 














10 
























11 




.24 
.06 


.09 




0.10 
Tr. 

'"."63' 
















12 


.70 
.20 
















13 


Tr. 
.15 


.30 
.10 


.07 
Tr. 
.12. 

Tr. 


0.12 


.24 










14 










15 




.11 


.27 
.10 




0.14 






.25 


16 


.39 














17 






.18 














18 




-. 


Tr. 


.02 














.02 


19 


.67 






.61 

.05 
.08 


'"".'32" 


.16 







.11 


20 










Tr. 

.08 
.09 








21 






Tr. 














22 . ... 








.04 
.10 


Tr. 






* ' 




23 


.30 
.80 


.29 
.02 


.15 


.12 








* 


24 
















25 


Tr. 


.18 


Tr. 
.06 















.45 


26 


















.04 


27 






















16 


28 



















Tr. 








29 
























SO 




.. . 






















31 


.60 




.12 


.37 


.15 
































Total 

Snowfall, in 
inches . . 


6.21 


1.27 


1.11 


1.87 


b.50 


.52 


.63 
3.9 


.72 
9.0 


.30 
3.4 


C.23 


d.20 


1.13 
10.5 























a Gage installed Aug. 10. 
b Aug. 11-31. 



c Sept. 1-10. 
d Sept. 1-9. 



CLIMATE. 



25 



Daily precipitation, in inches, at stations in Seward Peninsula, 1906 to 1910, inclusive- 
Continued, 



Day. 


No- 
vem- 
ber, 
1908. 


De- 
cem- 
ber. 


Janu- 
uary, 
1909. 


Feb- 
ruary. 


March. 


April. 


May. 


June. 




Nome. 


Nome. 


Can- 
dle. 


Nome. 


Iron 

Creek. 


Can- 
dle. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


1 


















0.04 
.01 
.01 








2 








6.06 




0.11 






0.07 






3 
















4 
























5 






0.08 
.12 












.01 








6 






















7 
























g 










o.ie 


.05 















9 




0.13 








* 








* 


10 
























11 












.14 














12 




.04 




















13 














0.06 
"**09" 


.01 
.03 

.09 
.03 
.03 
.03 
Tr. 








14 














0.08 




0.08 




15 


0.04 












Tr. 


16 


.11 






.05 












17 




















18 














.03 









* 


19 




















20 


.07 






















0.05 


21 












.15 












22 


Tr. 






















23 




.i7 


.07 


















24 




.08 
















Tr. 


25 


.10 





















03 


26 






















.02 


27 






















.02 
.03 

.18 
.57 


.07 


28 






















.13 


29 


Tr. 
.05 


.17 
.22 








.08 
.07 


■".■62' 








75 


30 








,01 


31 










































Total.... 

Snowfall, in 

inches 


.26 
3.5 


.75 
11.75 


.37 
3.0 


.13 
2.0 


.21 

2.75 


.45 
5.0 


.28 
Tr. 


.15 

Tr. 


.26 
Tr. 


.07 
Tr. 


.88 


1.06 











June, 1909, con. 


July. 


August. 


Day. 


Iron 
Creek. 


Candle. 


Nome .a 


Black 
Point. 


Ophir. 


Candle. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Ophir. 


Dahl. 


Candle. 


1 




Tr. 




















2 










1 








Tr. 


3 














0.33 
.28 


0.42 
.22 
Tr. 


0.40 


0.10 
.01 




4 














0.36 


5 


Tr. 


0.03 








Tr. 


02 


6 












Tr. 


7 , . 


















.09 
.40 
.58 


'"".'65" 
.04 


Tr 


8 






0.42 


0.00 
.16 




0.11 

.42 


.11 
.38 
.13 


.07 
.72 
.22 




9 ... 


Tr. 




40 


10 


.05 
.11 








11 


















12 






.18 
.05 




.12 


.24 
.03 


.02 
.10 








13 


Tr. 


Tr. 
.03 





.20 






14 










15 


Tr. 


.08 




.04 















• The daily values for July at Nome are incomplete, but the monthly total is correct. 



^6 



SUEFACE WATER SUPPLY OP SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily precipitation, in inches, at stations in Seward Peninsula, 1906 to 1910, inclusive — 

Continued, 





June, 1909, con. 


July. 


August. 


Day. 


Iron 
Creek. 


Candle. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Ophlr. 


Candle. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Ophir. 


Dahl. 


Candle. 


16 




0.32 


'""6.02" 
.02 


0.03 
.02 




0.04 












17 














18 




















19 






















20 




.03 




















21 






















22 . . 
















0.02 






Tr. 


23 


0.02 












.05 










24. ... 





















25 
























26 
























27 


.04 






.07 


;;;;;;; 


.07 


0.11 
.05 


.08 


0.12 
.02 


0.01 




28 


.12 

05 


.04 


05 


29 













30 . . 




.02 




















31 




















Tr. 


























Total. 


a. 06 


.84 


.82 


.64 


0.00 


.81 


1.66 


1.87 


1.81 


.21 


.83 





September, 1909. 


October. 


November. 


December. 


Day. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Grand 
Cen- 
tral. 


Ophir. 


Dahl. 


Can- 
dle. 


Nome. 


Can- 
dle. 


Nome. 


Ophir. 


Nome. 


Ophir. 


1 


























2 
















:::::::i : ::: 




0.08 




3 


















Tr. 






4 


0.04 
.04 


0.02 
.14 


0.01 
.14 




0.01 










.13 




5 








Tr. 

0.18 
.09 






6. .. 


















7 














0.05 
.18 
.10 










8 




















9 . 














Tr. 


.15 




■ 




10 




















11 


















.26 








12 














' 


0.01 








13::::::::::::;: 


.11 
.05 


Tr. 
.17 


.02 
.10 


0.49 




.05 


0.12 
.11 
.07 

.07 
.05 








.06 





14 












15 










.17 








16 


.28 
.06 


C.14 




C.38 


.03 












17 













* 


18 . . . 


. ... 
.01 
















Tr. 
.15 




19 






















20 














.... 










21 


.05 
.02 
.16 
.15 


.24 




Tr. 


















22 





.02 
Tr. 
.01 
.02 


.11 

.24 
.39 
.28 

.10 












23 
















24. . 






.14 


.23 








25 












.06 

.31 
. .15 




26 




















27 






















28 


















Tr. 








29 




















.08 
Tr. 
.20 




30 



















.08 






31 












































Total.... 

Snowfall, in 

inches 


.96 


d.72 


«.27 


1.26 


.09 


.47 


1.45 
1.5 


.15 

1 


1.16 
14 


2.04 
29 


1.22 
16 


2.58 
27 



















o Accuracy of record doubtful. 
b Daily values not available. 
c Water equivalent of snow. 



d Total, September 1-21. 
e Total, September 1-14. 



CLIMATE. 



t1 



Daily precipitation, in inches, at stations in Seward Peninsula, 1906 to 1910, inclusive- 

Continued. 





January, 1910. 


February. 


March. 


April. 


May. 


Day. 


Nome. 


Ophir. 


Dahl. 


Nome. 


Ophir. 
(a) 


Nome. 


Ophir. 

(a) 


Nome. 


Ophir. 
(a) 


Nome. 


Ophir. 

(a) 


Dahl. 


1 
















O.U 










2 


:::::::r:;::: 






















8 ... 


I 






* 
















4 


0.22 




0.65 




















5 














0.12 






6 


.07 






















7 


















.03 
.06 






g 
























9 . .. 


.06 






.. . 
















10 






0.23 




Tr. 












1.00 


11 


.09 
.15 




.48 














12 




















13 
























14 


.16 




.32 




















15 .. . 






1 












16 








Tr. 

.09 




0.11 








Tr. 
.16 
.13 
.06 






17 
















.02 


18 











.03 
.09 
Tr. 










19 






















20 






.62 
.12 










..." 






21 


.19 














.07 
.07 
.10 






22 


















23 
















.11 








24 




















25 

















.27 










26 ... 
























27 


























28 



























29 




















.11 
.12 





04 


30 






. 

















31 


















































Total.... 
Snowfall, in 
inches 


.94 
13 


2.05 
27 


2.19 


.32 
3 


0.29 
3.2 


.23 
2.4 


0.35 
5.8 


.49 
5 


0.55 

7 


1.03 


0.40 


1.06 











Day. 


June, 


1910. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Octo- 
ber. 


No- 
vem- 
ber. 


De- 
cem- 
ber.a 




Nome. 


Can- 
dle. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Can- 
dle. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Can- 
dle. 


Nome. 


1 




0.30 


0.15 










0.30 
.08 


0.47 
.34 


0.32 





0.06 
.06 
.06 




2 . . 


0.05 






0.31 


0.04 
.01 




3 










.15 






4 




















5 




Tr. 


.09 

.04 
.04 
.05 
.(M 
.06 






.07 

.20 
.03 


.03 

.22 
.05 
.02 
.14 


04 

1.14 

.28 
.68 
.02 


1.87 

1.90 

.85 

.03 


.10 








6 














7 


.03 








.15 
.04 








8 






0.17 
.13 
.30 


.02 
.01 
.08 

.22 




9 


.19 
.07 

.04 


Tr. 






.04 




10 




Tr. 
0.25 




11 






.02 








12 


.05 
.04 




.04 
.03 
.03 
.21 

.57 
.18 


.08 
.05 
.16 
.21 

.40 
.66 
.08 






.09 
.21 




13 


.02 
.04 


















14 












Tr. 
.06 




16 




















16 


.21 


.35 
Tr. 
.22 
Tr. 
.17 


















17 


.25 
.15 




.10 
.20 








.10 






18 


.39 
.09 
.23 












19 















20 


1.06 





.80 






.05 













a Daily values not available. 



28 



SUBFACE WATER SUPPLY OE SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Dmly 'precipitation, in inches, at stations in Seward Peninsula, 1906 to 1910, inclusive — 

Continued. 



Day. 


June, 1910. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Octo- 
ber. 


No- 
vem- 
ber. 


De- 
cem- 
ber. 




Nome. 


Can- 
dle. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Can- 
dle. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Can- 
dle. 


Nome. 


21 ^ 




0.02 


0.04 




0.10 
.10 






0.37 
.26 
.62 
.16 
.07 

.02 


0.60 

1.04 

1.52 

.51 

.30 

.10 


Tr. 

0.25 
.05 
.15 
.02 








22 




0.07 
.13 
.37 
.06 


0.05 
.28 
.16 








23 






.38 


0.11 








24 






0.04 


Tr. 
0.06 

.12 
.24 




25 .... 






.15 


.12 

.06 
.14 

.08 
.27 
.01 







26 


0.04 
.08 
.07 






27 


.14 


.39 
.31 

.28 






.02 
.03 




28 
















29 


.13 
















30 


.04 




.13 
.07 


.05 
.05 














31 












.04 




























Total.. 
Snowfall, in 


1.59 


1.20 


3.57 


0.79 


1.68 


2.61 


2.79 


4.06 


9.58 


1.23 


1.08 


.99 
10.8 


0.56 
4.8 





























a Total for July 22-31. 
Note.— Monthly totals for Ophir from June to September may be found in the table below, giving a 
summary of monthly precipitation. 

Summary of monthly precipitation, in inches, at stations in Seward Peninsula, 1906- 

1910, inclusive. 



Station and year. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


For 

period. 


Nome: 
1906 














2.38 
2.08 
2.10 
.82 
3.57 


2.50 
2.68 
2.92 
1.66 
2.61 


1.02 

1.41 

.52 

.96 

4.06 


0.93 
.16 
1.13 
1.45 
1.08 


0.32 
.06 
.26 

1.16 
.99 


1.91 
.30 

.75 

1.22 

.56 


9.06 


1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 


2.64 
.43 
.37 
.94 


1.46 
.76 
.13 
.32 


3.37 

1.19 

.21 

.23 


0.10 
.02 
.45 
.49 


1.12 
.19 
.15 

1.03 


1.31 
.90 

.88 
1.59 


16.69 
11.17 
9.46 
17.47 


Mean 


1.10 


.67 


1.25 


.26 


.62 


1.17 


2.19 


2.47 


1.59 


.95 


.56 


.95 


13.78 


Ophir: 
1906 














3.57 

00 

3.68 


1.91 

1.81 
2.28 










5 48 


1909 














i.26 
2.36 


al.50 


2.04 


2.58 


9.19 


1910 


2.05 


.29 


.35 


.55 


.40 


b.lQ 


12.12 












Mean 














2.42 


2.00 




































Black Point: 
1907 












2.62 

.57 

1.06 


1.94 

2.30 

.64 

d.79 


2.85 
3.42 
1.87 
2.79 


3.26 
.63 

c 72 
9.58 








10.67 


1908 










.40 








7.32 


1909 
















4.29 


1910 


















13.16 
























Mean 












1.42 


dl.63 


2.73 


e4.49 






























Grand Central: 
1S07 














3.61 
4 02 


7.19 
fi 21 


5.06 

.72 








15. 86 


1908 




















10.95 


























Mean 














3.82 


6.70 


2.89 








13.41 
























Salmon T/ake: 
1906 












4.92 
1.79 


3.33 
3.65 


3.26 
2.26 








11.51 


1907 








. . 1 


2.31 








10.01 




























1 




3.36 


3.49 


2.76 


















' * 1 








i 




Iron Creek: 
1908 














1.67 


1.27 


.30 








3.24 


1909 










.26 


a. 06 








.32 


Shelton: 
1907 










.71 
1.32 


1.33 


.47 








2.51 


1908 












.44 








1.76 



a Accuracy of records doubtful. 
b Estimated by the observer. 
c Sept. 1-21, inclusive. 



d July 22-31, inclusive. 

e Partial months not included in mean. 



CLIMATE. 



29 



Summary of monthly precipitation, in inches, at stations in Seward Peninsula, 1906- 
1910, inclusive — Continued. 



Station and year. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


For 
period. 


Dahl: 
1909 
















0.21 


0.09 








0.30 


1910 


2.19 








1.06 







































Taylor: 
1907 














0.66 
.68 


.96 
1.11 


1.17 
0.23 








2.79 


1908 




















2.02 
























Mean 














.67 


1.04 




































Budd Creek: 
1908 














.69 


1.87 










2.56 


















1 






Candle: 
1908 
















6.50 

.83 

(1.16) 


C.20 

.47 

1.23 










1909 


(.20) 


(0.07) 


(0.11) 


0.28 


.07 


0.84 
1.20 


.81 
1.68 


0.15 


(0.63) 


(0.66) 


5.12 


1910 


5.27 






















Mean, 1909-10 












1.02 


1.24 


(1.00) 


.85 































a Sept. 1-10, inclusive. & Aug. 11-31, inclusive. c Sept. 1-9, inclusive. 

Note. — Values in parentheses are estimated by a comparison with the Nome data. 

An analysis of stream-flow records makes possible a determination 
of the amount of water which flows from a basin in which a gaging 
station has been maintained. When this run-off is computed as depth 
in inches on the drainage area, it is directly comparable with precipi- 
tation records obtained in the same area, if the loss due to evaporation 
is taken into consideration. The discharge of the streams in Seward 
Peninsula during the period between the break-up and the freeze-up 
represents practically the total flow for the year, as the ice prevailing 
throughout the wlater permits only a small underflow for that period. 
The following table summarizes the run-off of representative streams 
in the peninsula for the years covered by records. It is of value as an 
indirect index of the precipitation and serves to supplement the meager 
rainfall data available. 



Summary of monthly run 


-Off/ 


'n inches, at principal gaging stations in Seward Peninsula^ 
1906 to 1910, inclusive. 


Station and 
year. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


For 
period. 


Ophir Creek, at 
Canyon-ditch 
intake: 
1909 














0.83 
1.97 


0.85 
1.38 


0.60 
0.6S 








2 28 


Pargon River,b 
at ditch in- 
take: 
1909 




















4 03 
























Nome River, at 
Miocene in- 
take: ft 
1906 














4.25 
5.11 
1.19 
2.16 


3.88 
2.59 
3.36 
1.19 


4.88 

4.91 

dl.SO 

,92 








13 01 


]907 




















12 61 


19QS 












cl.62 
«3.93 








7.47 


1909 


















8 20 






















Mean 














3.18 


2.75 


/3.57 












_ 









.^ 














a Sept. 1 to 25, inclusive. 
h Natural discharge. 



c June 20 to 30, inclusive, 
d Sept. 1 to 22, inclusive. 



e June 15 to -SO, inclusive. 

/ Partial months not included in mean. 



30 



SUEFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENIKSULA. 



Summary of monthly run-off, in inches, at 'principal gaging stations in Seward Peninsula^ 
1906 to 1910, inclusive — Continued. 



station and 
year. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


For 
period. 


Nome River, at 
Pioneer in- 
take: a 
1908 














1.21 
2.93 
9.57 


3.80 
1.20 
5.45 


61.45 

.94 

9.32 








6.46 


1909 












C5.91 
11.03 








10.98 


1910 


















35.37 






















Mean 














4.57 


3.48 


d5.13 
































Grand Central 
River below 
the forks: 
]906 












e2.00 


14.64 
4.95 
7.98 

26.40 


6.73 
9.71 
4.18 
12.68 


9.25 

4.02 

/1. 70 








32.62 


1908 . 


















18.68 


1909 




















13.86 


1910 ff 












'111. 97 








51.05 
























Mean 














13.49 


8.32 


d6.64 
































Kruzgamepa 
River, at out- 
let of Salmon 
Lake: 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 


(1. 10) 
( .96) 
( .82) 
( .82) 
( .69) 


(0.74) 
( .74) 
( .65) 
( .62) 
( .56) 


(0. 69) 
( .69) 
( .69) 
( .55) 
( .55) 


(0.57) 
( .54) 
( .54) 
( .54) 
( .54) 


12.19 
6.96 
5.67 
4.77 
2.58 


14.73 
24.88 
9.72 
11.60 
10.06 


7.90 
7.62 
2.58 
4.78 
14.00 


3.66 
4.76 
4.10 
2.04 
6.77 


6.19 
6.49 
2.14 
1.44 
12. 97 


(2.88) 
(2.06) 

LIO 
.96 

2.64 


(1.46) 

.80 
(1.20) 


( .89) 

.69 

( .82) 

.92 


53.44 
57.85 
29.80 
29.61 
53.38 


Mean 


( .88) 


( .66) 


( .63) 


( .57) 


6.43 


14.20 


7.38 


4.27 


5.85 


1.93 


1.11 


44.83 






Kuzitrin River, 
at Lanes 
Landing: i 
1908 












2.26 
2.71 
3.84 


.27 

.44 

1.81 


.40 
.24 
1.24 


.24 

.20 

1.75 








3.17 


1909 










71.72 
41.53 








5.31 


1910 










1.09 






10.26 


















Mean 












2.94 


.84 


.63 


.73 






























Eougarok 

River , at 

H m estake- 

ditch intake:o 

1907 














m.lS 
.15 
.24 


.60 
.14 

.32 


«1.34 
O.09 
?.08 








2.12 


1908 




















.38 


1909 












P. 61 








1.25 






















Mean 














d.20 


.35 

.65 
.15 




































Kougarok 

River, above 

Coarse Gold 

Creek: 

1907 












.17 
.14 

.29 


nl.l4 
r.07 




1.96 


1908 




















.36 


1909 












P. 41 








.70 


























Mean 














.20 


.40 




































G oodhope 

River, below 

Esperanza 

Creek: 

1909 












«.]0 


.23 
.20 


.12 
.14 


«.07 

.06 








.52 


Kiwalik River, 
below Candle 
Creek: 
1909 


















.40 

























Note. — Values in parentheses are estimated. 

c Natural discharge. 
b Sept. 1 to 22, inclusive, 
c June 10 to 30, inclusive. 
d Partial months not included in mean. 
e June 24 to 30, inclusive. 
/Sept. 1 to 21, inclusive. 

g Estimated from discharge of Kruzgamepa River 
at outlet of Salmon Lake. • 
A June 15 to 30, inclusive. 
» Lanes Landing and Shelton are identical, 



i May 19 to 31, inclusive. 
k May 22 to 31, inclusive. 
I Oct. 1 to 8, inclusive. 
■m July 15 to 31, inclusive, 
m Sept. 1 to 20, inclusive. 
o Sept. 1 to 10, inclusive. 
p June 20 to 30, inclusive. 
« Sept. 1 to 16, inclusive. 
r Sept. 1 to 12, inclusive. 
« Sept I to 26, inclusive. 



CLIMATE. 31 

From the foregoing observations on the precipitation certain facts 
of significance have been determined One of the most notable fea- 
tures is that the larger part of the precipitation at all stations occurs 
during the summer, from the last of May to the middle of October. 
Various estimates show that from two-thirds to three-fourths or more 
of the total yearly precipitation occurs during these months. For this 
reason the summer visitor gains the impression that the rainfall in this 
region is much greater than it actually is. 

The average yearly precipitation at Nome since 1906 is 13.78 
inches and the average yearly run-off of Kruzgamepa River at the 
outlet of Salmon Lake for 1906-1910 is 44.83 inches. The greater 
part of the drainage area of Kruzgamepa River lies within the Kig- 
luaik Mountains, and it is safe to assume that the average yearly 
precipitation in the mountains for this same period exceeds 50 
inches. The partly estimated precipitation at Candle for 1909 of 
5.12 inches is a little over 50 per cent of that at Nome and only 17 
per cent of the run-off of Kruzgamepa River for that year. 

Totals for periods during which rainfall records were kept at the 
several stations have been compared with the totals for the same 
periods at Nome. The following list gives the average relation so 
determined in approximate percentages of the precipitation at 
Nome : 

Ophir, slightly greater. 
Black Point, about 130 per cent. 
Grand Central, about 220 per cent. 
Salmon Lake, about 160 per cent. 
Shelton, about 50 per cent. 
Taylor, about 40 per cent. 
Candle, about 50 per cent. 

A similar study of the run-off can be made only at those stations 
where the records extend from the break-up to the freeze-up. The 
average yearly run-off of Kruzgamepa River at the outlet of Salmon 
Lake for 1906-1910 is about 320 per cent and that of Kuzitrin River 
at Lanes Landing for 1909-10 is between 55 and 60 per cent of the 
average yearly precipitation at Nome for similar periods. The 
latter percentage is probably small, because it does not include the 
winter flow of the Kuzitrin, which, however, represents only a small 
percentage of the total flow. The winter flow of the Kruzgamepa 
was estimated. It is interesting to note that the run-oft' of Kuzitrin 
River at Lanes Landing or Shelton is a greater percentage of the 
precipitation at Nome than that given above for the rainfall station 
at the same place. This discrepancy can be accounted for by the 
fact that the precipitation is heavier in the higher areas within the 
drainage basiii than at Shelton. The whole region is subject to 



32 SUKFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 

local showers and storms, niany of which are heavy in one valley and 
not felt in the next, and the precipitation from a general storm may 
be very unequally distributed. The percentages given above may 
therefore be considerably in error, especially as many of them were 
determined from records covering short periods. 

The lack of uniformity in the amount of precipitation falling in 
different parts of the peninsula is probably due to the fact that 
southerly winds bring the heaviest rains and lose most of their 
moisture in passing over the mountains. In the summer of 1907 
76 per cent of the rainfall at Grand Central was accompanied by 
winds from the southern quadrant, whereas only 40 per cent of the 
rainfall at Taylor was accompanied by winds from the same quadrant. 
The percentages for the other stations range between these 
extremes. 

The precipitation and run-off data show that 1906, 1907, and 1910 
were years of fairly good water supply and that 1908 and 1909 were 
years of drought. The total precipitation at Nome in 1909, 9.46 
inches, is 69 per cent of the average for the period covered by records 
and only 54 per cent of the maximum of 17.47 inches which occurred 
in 1910. The same comparison applied to the run-off data of Kruz- 
gamepa River for the same years gives percentages of 66 and 55 
respectively. The maximum yearly run-off of the river from 1906 
to 1910, however, was 57.85 inches, in 1907. 

DESCRIPTIVE GEOLOGY. 

By Philip S. Smith. 

The many different rocks and deposits in Seward Peninsula may 
be grouped into three main divisions which, for convenience, will be 
called the sedimentary rocks, the igneous rocks, and the uncon- 
solidated deposits. Each division is composed of several different 
members; for example, the sedimentary rocks consist of metamorphic 
and nonmetamorphic rocks, and these may be further subdivided, 
according to their lithoiogy or structure, into schists, limestones, 
slates, sandstones, and conglomerates. It is not intended, however, 
to present in this paper, a detailed geologic report on Seward Penin- 
sula, and the reader who desires that information should consult the 
publications of the United States Geological Survey primarily 
devoted to that subject.^ 

1 The following are of greatest general importance, though the yearly "progress reports" are of value: 
Collier, A. J., Hess, F. L., Smith, P. S., and Brooks, A. H., The gold placers of parts of Seward Peninsula, 
Alaska: Bull. XJ. S. Geol. Survey No. 328, 1908, 343 pp. Moffit, F. H., The Fairhaven gold placers, Seward 
Peninsula, Alaska: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 247, 1905, 85 pp. Smith, P. S., Geology and mineral 
resources of the Solomon and Casadepaga quadrangles, Alaska: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 433, 1910, 234 
pp. Smith, P. S., and Eakin, H. M., A geologic reconnaissance in southeastern Seward Peninsula and 
the Norton Bay-Nulato region, Alaska: B-ull. XJ. S. (j^qL Survey No. 449, 1911, 14^ pp. 





U. S. G 












GEORGE 1 


ER-SUPPLY PAPER 314 PLATE IV 






161° 








^V/ Q^d 








c/r^y^— -J 






\f\Sel^^^ ^"^ 








jscholtz. Bevy \ 












) 












66° 




ji^^Qud /g^ 


k 


o 
66 








2? V_^/ 1 






CapePr 
of Wa! 




k 






^^!;V:W_ 








F^Ci/^ 








W^^\i " 




65 




UlJ%^ 


o 
65 






^XjT vy^^m 








^^^fo^;^ 






? v 




Ks 








.>^' 




/ 








jbe/ Qud 








10 


i;^-^^^^— 


/ 








\ [^= 






\i. 


161° 








Tipiled and arrangec 


i by F 


»hilip S. 


Sm 


th 



LEGEND 

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS 



Qud 



Unconsolidated deposits <2 ^ 



Ks 



Cretaceous sediments 
including sorae Tertiary 



Chiefly Paleozoic 
limestones 



sch 



3 



UndiflFerentiated schists 



"-% 



Kigluaik group 



IGNEOUS ROCKS 



be 



Late basic effusives 



Granitic intrasives 



so 



pc< 



Early basic effusives 



Gold placer 



Coal mine 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 314 PLATE 



LEGEND 

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS 




GEOLOGIC MAP OF SEWARD PENINSULA, ALASKA 



DESCKIPTIVE GEOLOGY. 33 

SEDIMENTARY HOCKS 

The general distribution of the rocks that have been mapped in 
Seward Peninsula is shown in Plate IV. On this map the sedimen- 
tary rocks have been grouped in four divisions. These are, com- 
mencing with the oldest, the Kigluaik group, the undifferentiated 
schists, the Paleozoic limestones, and the Cretaceous and Tertiary 
conglomerates and sandstones. 

The Kigluaik group consists of gneiss overlain by a heavy lime- 
stone, which, in turn, is overlain by biotitic and graphitic schists. 
It is most extensively developed in the Kigluaik and Bendeleben 
mountains, but some of the areas mapped as undifferentiated schist 
may include also members of this group. The sedimentary rocks of 
which it is composed are cut by granitic and basic dikes and stocks. 
The rocks show a complex history, inasmuch as an unconformity has 
been recognized between the lower and upper members. The lower 
limit of the Kigluaik is not known, and the group probably repre- 
sents the oldest sedimentary rocks exposed in the region. No defi- 
nite age has been assigned to the group except that it is undoubtedly 
pre-Ordovician. It is possible that it may even be pre-Cambrian. 

The undifferentiated schists, as their name implies, are meta- 
morphic rocks of complex origin, the stratigraphy of which has not 
been adequately determined and which, therefore, probably contain 
representatives of both higher and lower horizons. They are mainly 
quartzose chloritic schists, but include some subordinate limestones 
and some undistinguishable sheared igneous rocks. They occupy 
a greater area than any other of the rock divisions. The dominant 
structure is cleavage, so that m places precise determination of the 
attitude of the rocks is impossible. The topographic forms produced 
by the schists are not striking except where they stand at the sum- 
mits of ridges, on which they form remarkable pinnacles. 

Although these schists contain diverse members, it is believed that 
the larger part of them are older than the next higher division, and 
they may therefore be regarded as in part equivalent to the Kigluaik 
group. Moffit,^ who has made the most detailed study of the undif- 
ferentiated rocks south of the Kigluaik Mountains, has stated that 
the schists at the head of Nome and Sinuk rivers probably overlie 
the Kigluaik group unconformably. If this is true it may mean that 
these rocks too are pre-Cambrian. Although there is no definite 
way of determining the lower limit of these rocks it seems probable 
that the schists as a whole are pre-Ordovician. The gold of most 
of the placers of Seward Peninsula has been derived from these schists. 

1 Moffitt, F, H., The Nome region: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 314, 1907, pp. 128-129. 
63851°— wsp 314—13 3 



34 SUEFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 

In the western part of the peninsula, forming an area of 1,400 
square miles, is a thick series of gray limestones which seem in places 
to overlie conformably schists belonging to the group of undifferen- 
tiated rocks. The structure of this area is complex, and the strati- 
graphy has not been determined. Collier ^ originally called this 
series of gray rocks the Port Clarence limestone and assigned it to 
Ordovician and Silurian time. Subsequent studies, however, have 
shown that these rocks have a much greater range in time than was 
at first supposed, and in the typical Port Clarence region late Cam- 
brian fossils have been reported from them by Kindle. Correlations 
by other observers in remote portions of the field have referred to 
this series certain limestones of Devonian and Carboniferous age, and 
these inexact correlations indicate that more field work will be neces- 
sary to map satisfactorily the various members of this division. In 
the present report it has been necessary to group these diverse strata 
together under the head ^'Paleozoic limestones.'' Although this 
grouping obscures in a measure the precise geology of the region it 
serves to bring lithologically similar rocks together, and it also, in a 
broad way, permits the generalization that the heavy limestones, 
taken as a whole, lie above the schists, in general unconformably. 

The following summary of the general character of the limestone 
in the western part of the peninsula was prepared by Knopf: ^ 

Here it comprises a thick volume of thin-bedded limestones of dense texture, gen- 
erally unaffected by metamorphism. Four types of rock can be discriminated — an 
ash-gray variety, a dark lead-gray variety, magnesian and tremolitic phases, and an 
argillaceous banded variety. The first two are the commonest types and occur 
together in interstratified beds. The dark lead-gray limestone forms massive beds 
up to 6 feet thick, while the ash-gray variety, which is fine grained, like lithographic 
stone, is thin bedded and commonly breaks into thin slabs whose surfaces are covered 
with fucoid fragments. Some beds of fine-grained dolomite occur in the Port Clarence 
formation. Occasionally strata occur interbedded with the normal Port Clarence 
limestone which show numerous small prisms of tremolite in random orientation. 
This is the highest degree of metamorphism displayed by the formation except for 
purely local manifestations surrounding granitic intrusives. 

As a rule, where limestone forms the country rock much of the 
drainage is carried underground and consequently the amount of the 
available water is lessened. Here and there, however, near the base 
of the limestone, are springs which discharge an abnormal amount 
of water. Moonlight Springs, on Casadepaga River, form a strik- 
ing example. Furthermore, this limestone makes very bad ditching 
ground, and its distribution is therefore an important economic 
factor. Owing to its hardness the limestone is usually difiicult to 
excavate where it forms the bedrock of a placer deposit, and its 

» Collier, A. J., op. cit., p. 79. 

2 Knopf, Adolph, Geology of the Seward Peninsula tin deposits, Alaska: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey, No. 
358, 1908, pp. 12-X3, 



DESCKIPTIVE GEOLOGY. 35 

weathered surface is usually so irregular that the recovery of gold 
from it is costly and laborious. 

The next younger group of rocks belongs mainly to the Cretaceous 
system, though it may include some Tertiary sediments as well. 
The junction between the Cretaceous and the older rocks is really 
the eastern boundary of Seward Peninsula. East of that line the 
Cretaceous rocks extend practically without interruption beyond 
the mouth of the Koyukuk. West of the line several small areas, 
such as those east of the Tubutulik and on the Koyuk, mark 
infolded or infaulted blocks of the younger rocks. Although it is by 
no means proved, it is not unlikely that the two small coal areas on 
Kugruk and Sinuk rivers may be of the same age as this group, 
though they have formerly been provisionally correlated with the 
Tertiary. 

The typical Cretaceous sediments, though much folded and faulted, 
are unaffected by metamorphism. At the base of the section lies a 
heavy bedded conglomerate, called the Ungalik conglomerate, made 
up of pebbles of the metamorphic rocks, the granites, and the older 
effusives. Conformably upon the conglomerates lie the sandstones 
and shales which have been called in the eastern part of the region 
the Shaktolik group. ^ These strata are made up mainly of commi- 
nuted volcanic rocks and quartz. The two divisions of the Cretaceous 
together form a stratigraphic section many thousand feet thick. 
Although of considerable geologic interest, these rocks are of small 
importance in the present discussion, for they are not notably placer 
bearing and they are absent from the parts of Seward Peninsula 
where mining has been successfully carried on. 

IGNEOUS ROCKS. 

The igneous rocks of Seward Peninsula present great diversity of 
character, but in the present paper they have been classified in only 
three main subdivisions, namely, the granitic intrusives, the pre- 
Cretaceous effusives, and the late basic effusives. Another sub- 
division exists, made up of the greenstones and metamorphic schists 
of igneous origin, but owing to the small scale of the map and to the 
lack of specific information about the areal distribution of these 
sheared igneous rocks throughout the peninsula, this group has been 
included with the undifferentiated schists. So far no definite con- 
nection between these various igneous rocks and the production of 
auriferous deposits has been proved; in fact, placer deposits are 
notably absent from the areas of igneous rocks. 

1 Smith, P. S., and Eakin, H. M., A geologic reconnaissance in southeastern Seward Peninsula and the 
Norton Bay-Nulato region, Alaska: Bull. U, S. Geol. Survey, No. 449, 1911, pp. 55-60. 



36 SUKFACE WATEB SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

Granitic intrusive rocks are particularly abundant in the Kigluaik- 
Bendeleben and the Darby mountains and in the divide be-tween Buck- 
land and Kiwalik rivers. In the Kigluaik-Bendeleben Range the rock 
is a true granite, light colored, even grained, and unsheared, and offers 
strong resistance to normal weathering. These intrusive rocks cut 
the metamorphic schists and the Paleozoic limestones, but they form 
pebbles in the Ungalik conglomerate at the base of the Cretaceous 
system, so that their age is probably Mesozoic. The granites occur 
mainly as batholiths, but also, in the vicinity of the larger masses, 
form numerous dikes parallel to the secondary structure of the meta- 
morphic rocks. 

In the Darby Mountains the granitic rocks are diorites and granites. 
In composition the diorite ranges from a normal amphibole-plagio- 
clase rock to one containing quartz and orthoclase in addition to the 
usual constituents. The plagioclase is apparently about midway in 
the albite-anorthite series. Accessory apatite, titanite, muscovite, 
and metallic minerals in small amounts were noted in several speci- 
mens that were studied microscopically. The granites are of two 
distinct types— one with a marked porphyritic development, and the 
other with an even grain similar to the granite from the Kigluaik- 
Bendeleben Mountains. The porphyritic granite is characterized by 
a coarse-grained mass of quartz orthoclase and a little biotite, the 
grains averaging about 0.2 inch in diameter. Large orthoclase 
crystals averaging about an inch and a half in length are scattered 
abundantly through the rock. Some inclusions of diorite have been 
found in the porphyritic granite, but elsewhere granites are included 
in diorites, so that an intricate and complex history is indicated for 
the period of intrusive activity. 

In the divide between Buckland and Kiwalik rivers there is a series 
of andesites and associated rocks, unknown elsewhere in Seward 
Peninsula. These rocks have been designated on the map (PI. IV) 
^ 'Early basic effusives." They are entirely unmetamorphosed, are 
cut by granites, and form pebbles in the Ungalik conglomerate, so that 
an approximate determination of their age is not dijfficult. These 
rocks have been described by Moffit ^ as follows : 

They are of a dark-gray or greenish color, and on an exposed surface have a spotted 
appearance due to the alteration of the feldspar phenocrysts. Both hornblende and 
pyroxene varieties were seen, the latter containing considerable olivine in addition to 
pyroxene, and showing the secondary mineral, iddingsite. Alteration of pyroxene to 
hornblende was also observed. The feldspar is a basic variety, labradorite or some- 
times anorthite, giving as alteration products chlorite and epidote. Andesite breccias 
were found at various localities. 

Effusive rocks of later geologic age are found at many places. 
Probably not all these flows are contemporaneous, but in a broad way 

1 Moffit, F. H., The Fairhaven gold placers, Seward Peninsula, Alaska: Bull. U. S. Greol. Survey No. 
247, 1905, p. 31. 



DESCKEPTTVE GEOLOGY. 37 

it is believed tbat they mark essentially one period of volcanism. 
Thus, though many years elapsed between successive flows, there 
is strong reason for correlating them and for regarding them as 
sjTQchronous in a geologic sense. Although practically all these rocks 
are surface flows, there are, of course, here and there dikes by which 
the flows were fed. All these rocks are characteristically olivine 
basalts having a vesicular structure. 

The effusive rocks occur mainly in the eastern part of the peninsula 
and occupy an area of over 1,000 square miles. So recent are some 
of the flows that the surface is practically undissected, and the tongues 
of lava, as in the Noxapaga and Kuzitrin basins, still preserve the 
form they acquired as they flowed over the country. The region 
around Imuruk Lake, locaUy known as the "goose pastures,'' shows 
typical examples of these recent flows. 

UNCONSOLIDATED DEPOSITS. 

Gravels were deposited on the sea floor and on the land surface over 
a long period that began before the appearance of the volcanic 
effusives and continued for some time after the eruptions had ceased. 
These deposits have here been grouped together under the term 
^^unconsolidated deposits." Their accumulation took place under 
conditions that varied greatly owing to the diversity of the physical 
features of the region from which they were derived and of the surface 
on which they were laid down. Some of the gravels were deposited 
on the sea floor and were modeled into form by waves and ocean cur- 
rents. In other places the land waste was transported and laid down 
by streams. In still other places vaUey glaciers eroded their beds, 
transported fragments, and on melting left deposits characteristic 
of ice action. Some deposits have been worked upon by two or 
more agencies, and therefore show complex relations. 

The unconsolidated deposits are presumably mainly of Pleistocene 
and Recent age. Some Tertiary fossils from the coastal plain at Nome 
have been determined by Dall, and some of the ancient stream gravels 
may also belong to the Tertiary period. The volume of the Tertiary 
deposits is undoubtedly much less than that of the Quaternary 
unconsolidated deposits. 

Some of the deposits, especially in the surface portions of the 
coastal plain, consist of fine-grained bluish-gray muck, which con- 
tains a considerable amount of vegetal material and numerous beds 
and lenses of clear ice. Where the turf overlying the muck is re- 
moved the ice thaws rapidly and the material caves. Deposits of 
this type are very widespread and offer one of the greatest difficul- 
ties to ditch construction. (See p. 258.) In places this muck layer 
is only a few inches thick, but in others it has a measured thickness 



38 SUEFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENIlSrSULA. 

of more than- 50 feet. Its origin is complex, and apparently it has 
been formed under different conditions in different places, so that 
no general statement can be made as to its mode of formation. 

The unconsolidated deposits are most important from the stand- 
point of the placer miner, and as the utilization of the water supply 
IS most closely bound up with placer operations more specific atten- 
tion will be paid to this type of deposit in the following pages. The 
various forms in which the unconsolidated deposits are found will be 
more fully discussed in the section on types of placers (pp. 38-51), 
and the physical condition of the gravels will be described in greater 
detail in the sections on mining methods (pp. 269-303), and on ditch 
construction (pp. 255-269). A more complete description of this 
important class of deposits has already been published by Collier and 
others.^ 

Many if not most of the unconsolidated deposits are permanently 
frozen and present conditions not found in more temperate latitudes. 
No satisfactory explanation has yet been advanced to account for 
the distribution of the permanent frost, for patches of thawed and 
frozen ground are associated in relations so complex that it is im- 
possible to frame a theory that will account for all the known facts. 
The presence or absence of permanently frozen material has an 
important effect in determining the method of mining the uncon- 
solidated deposits that contain placers 

^ GOLD PINCERS. 

By Philip S. Smith. 
NATURE AND ORIGIN. 

This report was not prepared primarily for technical readers, and 
certain parts of it have been written especially for those unfamiliar 
with placer mining. To give an elementary conception of placers 
and placer mining, it may be stated that a placer is a deposit of 
disintegrated rock fragments more or less concentrated by various 
geologic processes, containing economically valuable minerals. The 
valuable minerals are separated from the worthless ones by taking 
advantage of some physical property peculiar to the material to be 
saved. 

Placers have been formed under a variety of conditions and con- 
sequently have different characters and relations to the present 
topography. A number of different classifications based on some 
particular features might be made, but in the present paper a classi- 
fication based mainly on the mode of origin and therefore indicating 
the topographic expression of the deposit will be adopted. Accord- 
ing to this scheme the Seward Peninsula placers may be divided into 

1 Collier, A. J., and others, The gold placers of parts of Seward Peninsula, Alaska: Bull. U, S. Geol. 
Survey No. 328, pp. 85-94. 



GOLD PLACEKS. 39 

two main classes, residual and water-sorted, of which the latter is 
more important. There are gradations between the different types, 
and it might be impossible to place in their appropriate classes all 
known examples, but such difficulty is practically unavoidable in 
any systematic treatment. 

RESIDUAL PLACERS. 

Eesidual placers are those that have formed near a mineralized 
deposit practically without transportation. Ordinary weathering 
causes rocks to crumble and disintegrate, so that detritus collects at 
the bases of ledges. If the rock contains valuable minerals that are 
unaffected by solution and the other chemical processes connected 
with weathering the deposits thus formed may be of economic value. 
In the Council region, on one of the gulches tributary to Crooked 
Creek, a residual placer of this sort has been formed on the slope 
below a vein of auriferous quartz. The placers near the head of 
Bering Gulch in the Bluestone region may also belong to this class, 
although too little is laiown about them to permit final statement 
as to their character. 

As there has been little transportation of residual deposits except 
the downhill creep of the material, little sorting has been effected, 
and consequently the gold content of the residual placer is usually only 
a little greater than that in the parent ledge from which it was 
derived, unless the process has been continued for a very long time. 
Placers of this type are therefore not widely distributed, are generally 
small, and, unless the rocks from which the valuable minerals were 
derived are very rich or weathering has been long effective, are not 
of sufficiently high tenor to warrant extensive development. Further- 
more, most of these deposits occur at elevations so high above the 
drainage lines of the region that the cost of mining them is great. 

WATER-SORTED PLACERS. 

The more important placers are those in which water has effected 
a concentration, whereby the lighter material has been transported 
farther than the heavier, more valuable minerals. These placers 
may be divided into two main classes — those formed by flowing 
water, as in rivers, and those formed by shore action along the bor- 
ders of the sea or large fresh-water lakes. For convenience in de- 
scription the former will be called stream placers and the latter 
beach placers. In general, the stream placers are of fresh-water 
origin, and most of the beach placers were formed under marine 
conditions, though intermediate phases are not uncommon. 



40 SUKFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

STREAM PLACERS. 

Stream placers have heretofore been the raain source of the gold 
of Seward Peninsula, and they will undoubtedly long continue to 
yield a large amount of the production. Classified by age and con- 
sequently by relative topographic position these deposits may be 
divided into modern and ancient. Obviously with terms so elastic 
the same deposit might be placed in different categories, the placing 
depending on the interpretation of the term modern. In this paper 
those placers that are practically in process of formation by the pres- 
ent streams or are so closely related to them that theii' origin is imme- 
diately connected with those streams are called modern, and the 
others are called ancient. 

In most of the typical modern stream placers the auriferous gravels 
are not more than 5 to 10 feet thick. In places the workable deposits 
extend almost uninterruptedly along a creek, though with considerable 
range in tenor. Elsewhere the profitable placer or pay streak is dis- 
continuous, rich spots alternating with poor ones. The gold in these 
placers, although it occurs in all portions of the deposit, is usually 
most abundant in the lower part. Wliere this bottom concentration 
has taken place on bedrock the particles of gold penetrate to a greater 
or less extent along the cracks and crevices, so that in places several 
feet of the rock floor must be carefully treated in order to recover the 
valuable minerals. At other places a clay layer just above the bed- 
rock served as a floor on which concentration took place. The amount 
of placer gold on and in the bedrock is much less in such placers than 
in those where the clay is absent. In some deposits clay layers at 
intervals above the hard rock have served as floors on which gold has 
accumulated, and these are generally spoken of as '^ false bedrock." 

The gravels of which the modern stream placers are composed are 
mainly of local derivation and have shapes determined by the water- 
sorting agency by which they have been formed. The character of 
the material over which the stream flows has, of course, a marked 
effect upon the resulting placer. In some places the existing streams 
flow on disintegrated bedrock, in others the rock is hard and prac- 
tically unweathered, and in stiU others the present streams are flow- 
ing on old gravel deposits. Most of the small gulches and small side 
valleys which contain placers exemplify the first two conditions, but 
many of the larger rivers and the streams flowing across the coastal 
plain are carving their valleys in older gravel deposits, which, having 
been subjected to two or more processes, have features that indicate 
their more complex history. 

The particular type of modern stream placer that has received the 
specific name '^bar placer" is sioadlar in most respects to an ordinary 
stream placer, except that, as its name implies, it is confined to the 
bars. As a result the auriferous gravels are rather thin, and because 



GOLD PLAOEES, 



41 



of the sorting of the gravels 
during the periods of high 
water the surface portion is 
usually the richest. Practi- 
cally the bar placers are sHght 
reconcentrations of the upper 
part of normal stream placers. 
Examples of this type may be 
found throughout Seward Pen- 
insula. It should be noted 
that the ordinary stream placer 
may be made up of a great 
number of bars as the stream 
shifts its course, at one time 
building up and at another time 
cutting down. Bar placers 
grade so directly into stream 
placers that a differentiation 
would require greater refine- 
ment than is desirable in this 
report. 

As is well known, the surface 
of the earth is subject to move- 
ments whereby relative uplift 
or depression is effected. Fur- 
thermore, changes in climate 
may cause the streams to lose 
or gain transporting efficiency. 
These and similar causes pro- 
duce changes in the drainage 
lines whereby the streams are 
forced to cut new valleys or to 
fill up their former ones and 
take new courses. Traces of 
the earlier courses may be pre- 
served as old river beds on the 
hillsides or as filled channels far 
below the level of the present 
drainage lines. If the gravels 
of these now vanished streams 
contain valuable minerals they 
may form workable deposits. 
The ancient stream placers on 
the hillsides are commonly called 
tinctive name for the ancient deep 




bench placers, but there is no dis- 
placers. Figure 2 shews an ideal- 



4^ 



SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



ized cross section of a valley in which the various types of placers so 
far noted are diagrammatically represented. 

Bench placers of this type are formed of material similar in most 
respects to the modern stream gravels. Owing to the long time that 
they have been subjected to weathering, however, the pebbles are 
more decomposed, and the deposits may be more or less covered with 
material that has crept down the slopes. Some of the bench placers 




PAY STREAKS. 



3000 feet 



Figure 3.— Sketch map and profile of high bench gravels south of King Mountain. 

indicate a simple history of only one period of formation, as, for 
instance, the upper bench placer shown near the left margin in figure 
2. Others, however, show a complex history in their mode of forma- 
tion, as, for example, the bench placer illustrated in the right-hand 
portion of the same diagram. These conditions are not ideal, but 
they may be observed in some of the productive placer mines. For 
instance, near the head of Dexter Creek shafts and underground work 
ings have disclosed conditions represented in figure 3. As is shown 



GOLD PLACEES. 43 

in the cross section, a body of bench gravels 250 feet deep was dis- 
covered, in places showing a distinct stream-channel cross section. 
So long ago, however, was this deposit formed that it is now more 
than 500 feet above the sea, and the ancient drainage lines have been 
so obliterated that a reconstruction of the topography is almost 
impossible. 

Bench placers are usually classified mainly according to topo- 
graphic form or position. There are, according to Collier,^ terrace 
benches, spur benches, pocket benches, and high benches. Some 
hillside placers are examples of bench placers, although others belong 
to the class of residual placers. The stream-deposited hillside placers 
are distinguished from other ancient bench placers because they have 
lost their topographic expression through the downhill creep of ma- 
terial subsequent to their formation. Each of these different kinds 
of bench deposit is represented by actual examples in the Seward 
Peninsula placer camps. Bench placers have been explored especially 
in the Nome, Council, and Candle regions, but are also important in 
the Solomon-Casadepaga, Bluestone, and Kougarok regions. 

Certain stream bench deposits merge so closely into ancient shore 
deposits that no sharp line of separation can be drawn. Some distinct 
bench deposits are due to shore conditions, and these can be dis- 
tinguished from the stream benches by their topographic expression, 
by the arrangement and character of the material of which they are 
composed, and some of them by the fossils they contain. Certain 
broad gravel deposits that stand at some elevation above the present 
streams show both fluviatile and shore features. Such deposits have 
been called gravel-plain placers. The deposits which show clearly 
that the dominant action producing the gravel plain has been other 
than fluviatile are treated in a later section (pp. 48-51). There are, 
however, large areas in the central part of Seward Peninsula where 
the complete history of the gravel-plain deposits has not been deter- 
mined, but where from the evidence now at hand it seems probable 
that streams played the most important part in the deposition. As 
a rule these fresh-water gravel plains do not contain rich placer 
deposits, and though in the future they may become commercially 
important they do not at present contribute any notable amount 
to the gold production of the peninsula. 

The other group of ancient stream placers, which, instead of stand- 
ing above the level of the present drainage lines, as the benches do, 
lie below that level, have not received much attention, though exam- 
ples are by no means uncommon. Practically all the larger rivers of 
the peninsula flow in filled valleys of older streams. For example, in 

1 Collier, A. J., and others, The gold placers of parts of Seward Peninsula, Alaska: Bull. U. S. Geol. Sur- 
vey No. 328, 1908, p. 143. 



44 SURFACE WATEE SUPPLY OE SEWARD PENINSULA. 

the lower parts of Snake and Nome rivers the depth to bedrock is in 
places at least 50 feet below the river surface; on the Casadepaga 
holes 60 feet or more in depth have been sunk before reaching bed- 
rock; no hole has yet reached bedrock in the lower parts of Kruz- 
gamepa and Kuzitrin rivers, and in many parts of Fish and Niukluk 
rivers the depth to bedrock is more than 50 feet. Even more remark- 
able, however, is the deep drill hole that, starting at an elevation of 
about 200 feet above the sea opposite Council, was put down 250 feet 
before reaching bedrock. A hole on Penelope Creek, a tributary of 
the Casadepaga, was more than 90 feet deep, and the shaft on Alameda 
Creek, a tributary of the Kojruk, was started a little more than 100 
feet above the sea and went down 190 feet without reaching bedrock. 
On Dahl Creek, in the Kougarok region, a hole 187 feet deep has been 
sunk within 50 feet of sea level without encountering bedrock. All 
these localities seem to have been originally ordinary stream valleys 
which were subsequently aggraded and then dissected by the existing 
streams. In places where conditions were favorable placer deposits 
were formed in these deep ancient stream courses, and with suitable 
machinery such deposits can be mined. The gold is usually in the 
lower part of the deposit, but, as in the modern stream placers where 
layers of clay occur, some concentration may be expected. Nearly 
all these ancient stream placers in Seward Peninsula, together with 
the overburden above them, are permanently frozen. It will be 
shown later that the presence or absence of frost is an important 
item in determining whether certain of these deposits can be worked 
and indicating what mining methods must be employed. 

It is evident that there is a close genetic similarity between these 
placers and the bench placers, for the former mark old valleys that 
have been depressed, whereas the latter mark old valleys that have 
been elevated. It is perfectly conceivable that a deep placer in one 
part of a drainage basin might be equivalent in time of formation with 
a bench in another part, although no such examples have been recog- 
nized in the region. It will be clear, then, that no sharp line of 
differentiation can be drawn between the placers in these apparently 
antithetical positions with respect to the present streams. 

BEACH PLACERS. 

The main difference between stream placers and beach placers is 
due to the different agencies involved in the production of the two 
types. A stream placer has its long axis down the slope, parallel 
with the stream, whereas a beach placer is practically horizontal and 
extends parallel with the margin of the sea or lake in which it was 
formed. Like stream placers, the beach placers may be divided into 
two main groups, those now in process of formation and those pro- 
duced in the past. 



GOLD PLACERS. 



45 



In Seward Peninsula no placers formed along the shores of existing 
lakes are known and the only examples of modern beach placers 
occur along the seashore. In parts of the coast where the waves 
break on rocky headlands the rocks are disintegrated and beaches 
may be developed. None of these places, however, have afforded 
economically important placers. Instead, the places where much 
gold has been won from the present beaches are those where the 
sea is breaking against the unconsolidated deposits of the Coastal 
Plain or where there are strong alongshore currents. In this way a 
reconcentration of previously sorted material is effected, and the 
result is a particularly rich deposit. Figure 4 shows diagrammati- 
caUy an ideal section of the modern beach placers near Nome and 
illustrates the relation of these deposits to the sands, gravels, and 
clays of the Coastal Plain. 

Beach placers are, as a rule, confined to the narrow strip of coast 
affected by waves and alongshore currents. Where the sea is erod- 










FiGUEE 4.— Diagrammatic section of beach placers. 

ing outcrops of hard rock the gold is mainly in and on bedrock, but 
where bedrock is deeply buried, as at Nome, concentration has been 
effected mainly on clay layers. The richest modern beach concen- 
tration in Seward Peninsula extended for about 10 miles to the east 
and west of Nome, and the pay streak was from 6 inches to 3 feet 
thick. The gold was in small flakes, averaging, according to Brooks, 
from 70 to 80 colors to the cent.^ Most of the gold was bright and 
well worn. A considerable range in the tenor of the auriferous 
gravels was found as mining progressed, due, no doubt, to differences 
in the original conditions under which the Coastal Plain deposits were 
laid down and to their reassortment by the sea at the present time. 
Where concentration and reconcentration were most effective the 
richest placers were formed, and where these processes were rela- 
tively ineffective placers were absent. It is noteworthy, however, 
that traces of gold could be found practically everywhere along the 
beach and the question whether a certain area was minable was 
determined on purely commercial grounds. 



I Brooks, A. H., and others. Reconnaissances in the Cape Nome and Norton Bay regions, Alaska, in 
1900: Special publication U. S. Geol, Survey, 1901, p. 87. 



46 



SUEFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWAKD PENINSULA. 



In addition to the beach placer proper, Collier ^ has pointed out 
that — 

Some fine gold is also found in the gently sloping floor of the sea, but since this 
is probably derived from the beach, it is more disseminated and finer than the beach 
gold and can not at present be regarded as forming a workable placer. 




Stream bench and beach placer deposits High bench placer deposits 

Figure 5.— Sketch map of Nome region, showing distribution of placers. 

If, however, this material should subsequently be concentrated by 
waves and currents a valuable deposit might be produced. This 



1 Collier, A. J., The gold placers of parts of Seward Peninsula, Alaska: Bull. U. S. Gaol. Survey No. 328, 
1908, p. 145. 



GOLD PLACERS. 47 

feature is, of course, of commercial importance only in the case of 
the ancient beaches the former seaward slope of which is now above 
sea level. 

In describing the history of mining developments (p. 271) reference 
is made to the ancient beaches near Nome. These are striking 
examples of beaches which since their formation have undergone a 
complex history v/hereby their attitude with respect to sea level 
has been materially changed. Two particularly well-marked ancient 
shore placers, whose positions are shown by figure 5, have been 
mined. The same figure also shows, on a larger scale than Plate I, 
the distribution of the placers of different types in the vicinity of 
Nome. 

These ancient beach placers differ in no genetic respect from the 
modern beach placers, but during the long time since their formation 
weathering and other geologic processes have combined to obliterate 



«j 



li il 



<f) (/5 





^ - -^- SeoLleveL 



Vz I MILE 



Figure 6. — Diagrammatic cross section showing beaches near Nome. 

their original form and character. One of the ancient beaches, 
the so-called third beach, has no topographic expression; but the 
second beach, which is much younger, has a well-marked shore cliff 
in part of its length. Altogether six more or less definite beaches have 
been recognized near Nome. They have the following positions with 
respect to sea level: ''Outer submarine beach," 34 feet below sea 
level; "inner submarine beach," about 20 feet below sea level; present 
beach at sea level; "intermediate beach," about 22 feet above sea 
level; "second beach," 38 feet; "third beach," about 78 feet. Figure 
6 shows diagrammatic ally the position of these various beaches, both 
vertically and horizontally, with respect to the sea. The history of 
these ancient beaches seems to show a general period of sinking of 
the land during which the "outer" and "inner" submarine beaches, 
the "intermediate beach," the "third beach," and probably an 
unrecognized beach still farther inland were formed. This was fol- 
lowed by a general period of uplift in which the Coastal Plain emerged 
and the "second" beach, and later the present beach, were formed. 



48 SUKFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

From the foregoing summary it is evident that certain beaches are 
comparable with the high benches of stream origin, whereas others — 
for example, the submarine beaches — are similar to the deep-stream 
gravels of the larger rivers already noted. Furthermore, it follows 
that the sorting and re-sorting of the Coastal Plain gravels has pro- 
duced a gravel-plain deposit, mainly of marine origin but in part 
formed by streams. Because of their manner of origin part of the 
gravel-plain deposits of Seward Peninsula should be included in the 
group of ancient beach placers as well as in the class of ancient 
stream placers, and gradational phases between the two are to be 
expected. 

DISTHIBTJTION. 
DEVELOPED PLACERS. 

Reference has already been made, both by illustration and by 
description, to the places where auriferous deposits have been mined 
in Seward Peninsula. It is desirable to amplify these scattered ref- 
erences by indicating all the areas where productive placers have 
been found in order that the places where investigations of water 
supply are particularly necessary may be pointed out. In a sub- 
sequent section an attempt will be made to indicate in a broad way 
the localities where future demands for water are to be expected. 

Probably the most satisfactory method of stating the distribution 
of the developed placers is the graphic representation on a map of the 
places where claims have been worked and gold produced. On Plate I 
(in pocket), Plate II (p. 12) and figure 5 (p. 46) all the known placers 
are shown, so far as the scales of the maps permit. It is not, of course, 
feasible or even desirable to indicate all the prospect holes and test 
pits that have been dug, and practically each placer symbol denotes 
a mine that has contributed to the gold production of the peninsula. 

From the position of the symbols certain facts concerning ihe dis- 
tribution of placers may be determined. Perhaps the most striking 
feature is the fact that they are widespread. At first sight they appear 
to be scattered from one end of the peninsula to the other and from 
the northern to the southern coast, but more detailed examination 
shows that in certain areas they are much more numerous than else- 
where. Productive placers have been found on nearly aU the streams 
within a radius of 5 to 6 miles of Nome, and numerous bench and 
beach placers have been worked on the hillsides and on the coastal 
plain, as indicated in figure 5 (p. 46). Another area in which placers 
are particularly numerous is that near Ophir Creek in the Council 
region. Here also are found placers of many types, although there 
are no beach placers. In the Kougarok region placers are numerous, 
and many more would probably be developed if the water resources 
were adequate. Placers near Candle have yielded considerable gold. 



GOLD PLAOEES. 49 

Most of the Candle placers are of the bench type, and little mining 
has been done in the modern stream gravels of that area. 

Placers have been developed in a great many other places, as, for 
example, in the Solomon and Casadepaga regions, in the Inmachuk 
basin, in the Bluestone region, and at Bluff, but their distribution is 
sufficiently evident from the map. The important relation between 
placers and bedrock geology, however, is not so evident. The more 
important placer areas are shown on the geologic map (PL IV, p. 32), 
from which it appears that practically all the placers occur in the 
areas occupied by the undifferentiated schists. No placers have been 
located in the areas formed exclusively of the Paleozoic limestones 
and associated rocks, and none have been developed in the Kigluaik 
group of schists and limestones. The Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, 
save in one small area near the extreme southeastern margin of the 
region mapped, have yielded no placers, and apparently, except under 
certain special conditions,^ where these strata form the country rock 
search for auriferous deposits is likely to result in failure. 

In the areas of igneous rocks no placers of economic importance 
have been found except around Bear Creek, a tributary of the Buck- 
land, and Alameda Creek, a tributary of the Koyuk. This lack of 
placer deposits seems to be universal, whether the igneous rock is of 
the pre-Cretaceous granular variety abundant in the Kigluaik, Ben- 
deleben, and Darby mountains, of the effusive type common in the 
Kiwalik-Buckland divide, or of the type present in the very recent 
basaltic flows so numerous in the central and eastern part of the 
peninsula. In this connection it should be pointed out that certain 
placers in northern Seward Peninsula which are covered with lava 
do not vitiate the generalization just made. At these places lava 
has been poured out subsequent to the formation of the old stream 
deposits, and therefore it is not at aU surprising that when the lava 
covering is removed these deposits should be found to contain placers 
of sufficient value to justify mining. 

PROSPECTIVE PLACERS. 

The criteria for determining the places where commercially impor- 
tant placers will be found are necessarily derived from the facts pre- 
sented by the placers already developed. It is realized that such 
deductions are necessarily liable to error, but in the absence of other 
data these are the only guides available. A study of the placers that 
have been mined ^ indicates that there are three essential factors nec- 

1 Smith, P. S., and Eakin, H. M., A geologic reconnaissance in southeastern Seward Peninsula and the 
Norton Bay-Nulato region, Alaska: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 449, 1911, pp. 101-109. 

' This matter has been discussed at some length by A. H. Brooks. See Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 328, 
1908, pp. 114-«4. 

63851°— wsp 314—13 4 



50 SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 

essary for the formation of rich deposits, namely, a mineralized area 
in the vicinity, a period of disintegration whereby the vein matter is 
prepared for transportation, and a vigorous sorting of the material 
derived from the mineralized area. 

A study of the geology of Seward Peninsula shows that the first of 
the above conditions, the presence of a mineralized area, is fulfilled 
in many parts of the peninsula. Only a small amount of minerali- 
zation is shown in the areas of igneous rocks or in those of the sedi- 
mentary rocks other than the undifferentiated schists, and therefore 
placers are most to be expected in areas occupied by these schists. 
Mineralization is particularly abundant in the black graphitic slates 
which occur along the borders of the Kigluaik and Bendeleben 
mountains and which in the Solomon region have been called the 
Hurrah slates.^ In the black slates in the latter region quartz veins 
are so numerous that in certain specimens 13 veins have been counted 
in a linear inch of the rock. 

A particularly favorable position for the formation of placers seems 
to have been near the contact of the undifferentiated schists and the 
overlying Hmes tones. Sulphides of iron, copper, and lead, all to 
some extent auriferous, are found at or near this contact. As illus- 
trations of placers formed in this position may be cited those of the 
Anvil-Dexter region, near Nome; the Bluff region, Ophir Creek, in 
the Council, precinct; the Kougarok region; the Inmachuk area, in the 
Fairhaven precinct; and many other less productive regions through- 
out the peninsula. 

The other factors noted as necessary for the production of rich 
placers — a period of weathering, followed by active sorting — may 
well be treated together. Under exceptional circumstances either 
of these processes may almost be dispensed with, as is shown by the 
residual hillside placers on Crooked Creek, in the Council region, 
where sorting has been reduced to a minimum, or by the small beach 
placers on the cliffed seacoast west of Bluff, where weathering has 
effected little preparation of the material and the accumulation" is 
attributable almost entirely to sorting. If either of these factors 
is absent, however, the resulting placers are usually small. Of the 
two processes vigorous sorting is probably the more important. 

Although it has not been definitely proved, there is undoubtedly 
a close relation between the richness of a placer and the effectiveness 
of sorting and reconcentration in previous cycles. This fact is shown 
in modern stream placers that traverse bench placers and in beach 
placers that are formed of reconcentrated marine and flu via tile 
deposits. 

1 Smith, P. S., Geology and mineral resources of the Solomon and Casadepaga quadraiieles, Alaska: 
Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 433, 1910, pp. 59-62. , • 



DISCHAEGE OF STEEAMS. 51 

It is practically impossible to state briefly where the processes of 
disintegration and transportation have been most active, as it is 
necessary to consider each area separately. Broadly speaking, 
however, the whole of Seward Peninsula, with the exception of the 
Kigluaik, Bendeleben, and Darby mountains, has been subjected to 
nearly uniform erosion. In these mountains glaciation, elsewhere 
unknown, has in general dispersed the previously disintegrated and 
sorted deposits, so that productive placers are absent. Not only 
have the deposits been removed in the area occupied by the ice, but 
outwash from the glacier, deposited by streams and in ponds and 
lakes formed perhaps behind ice barriers, has covered over and 
effectually hidden earlier deposits. Some of the gravel-plain deposits 
in the central portion of the peninsula have been formed in part of 
this outwash material. 

So far as known, no large body of standing water has occupied any 
of the interior part of the region in sufficiently recent times to have 
formed deposits of marine concentrated alluvium. Beach placers 
are therefore not to be sought for in this part of the peninsula. The 
temporary lakes noted in the preceding paragraph, formed as a result 
of glaciation, do not seem to have persisted at a constant elevation 
long enough to have effected any marked concentration through 
shore action. 

DISCHARGE OF STREAMS. 

By F. F. Henshaw and G. L. Parker. 
TERMS USED. 

The volume of water flowing in a stream — the ' 'run-off " or *' dis- 
charge" — is expressed in various terms, each of which has become 
associated with a certain class of work. These terms may be divided 
into two groups — (1) those which represent a rate of flow, as second- 
feet, gallons per minute, miner's inches, and run-off in second-feet 
per square mile, and (2) those which represent th'e actual quantity 
of water, as run-off in depth in inches and acre-feet. They may be 
defined as follows: 

''Second-foot" is an abbreviation for cubic foot per second and is 
the unit for the rate of discharge of water flowing in a stream 1 foot 
wide and 1 foot deep, at a rate of 1 foot per second. It is generally 
used as a fundamental unit from which others are computed by the 
use of the factors given in the table of equivalents on page 52. 

The "miner's inch," the unit used in connection with placer 
mining, expresses the rate of flow of water through an orifice of a 
given size with a given head. The head and size of the orifice used 
in different localities vary, thus making it a most indefinite and 
unsatisfactory unit. Owing to the confusion arising from its use, it 



52 SUKPACE WATEB SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

has been defined by law in several States. The California miner^s 
inch is in most common use in the United States and was defined by 
an act approved March 23, 1901, as follows: ''The standard miner's 
inch of water shall be equivalent or equal to 1.5 cubic feet of water 
per minute, measured through any aperture or orifice." This miner's 
inch corresponds to the so-called V' 6-inch head" and is one-fortieth 
of a second-foot. The inch in most common use in Seward Peninsula 
is the ''old California inch," which was the standard in that State 
prior to the passage of the act above quoted, and is equivalent to 
1.2 cubic feet a minute, or one-fiftieth of a second-foot. 

"Second-feet per square mile" is the average number of cubic feet 
of water flowing per second from each square mile of the area drained, 
on the assumption that the run-off is distributed uniformly as regards 
both time and area. 

"Run-off, depth in inches on drainage area," is the depth to which 
the drainage area would be covered if all the water flowing from it in 
a given period were conserved and uniformly distributed on the 
surface. It is used for comparing run-off with rainfall, which is usually 
expressed as depth in inches. 

An "acre-foot" is equivalent to 43,560 cubic feet and is the quantity 
required to cover an acre to the depth of 1 foot. The term is com- 
monly used in connection with storage for irrigation. 

The following is a list of convenient equivalents for use in hydraulic 
computations : 

1 second-foot equals 40 California miner's inches (law of March 23, 1901). 

1 second-foot equals 50 "old California miner's inches " (used prior to law of March 23, 

1901). 
1 second-foot equals 7.48 United States gallons per second; equals 448.8 gallons per 

minute; equals 646,272 gallons for one day. 
1 second-foot for one year covers 1 square mile 1.131 feet, or 13.572 inches, deep. 
1 second-foot equals about 1 acre-inch per hour. 
1 second-foot for one day covers 1 square mile 0.03719 inch deep. 
1 second-foot for one day equals 1.983 acre-feet. 

100 California miner's inches equals 15.7 United States gallons per second. 
100 California miner's inches for one day equals 4.96 acre-feet. 
100 United States gallons per minute equals 0.223 second-foot. 
100 United States gallons per miaute for one day equals 0.442 acre-foot, 
1,000,000 United States gallons per day equals 1.55 second-feet. 
1,000,000 United States gallons equals 3.07 acre-feet. 
1,000,000 cubic feet equals 22.95 acre-feet. 
1 acre-foot equals 325,850 gallons. 

1 inch deep on 1 square mile equals 2,323,200 cubic feet. 
1 inch deep on 1 square mile equals 0.0737 second-foot per year, 
1 mile equals 5,280 feet. 
1 acre equals 43,560 square feet. 
1 acre equals 209 feet square nearly. 
1 cubic foot equals 7.48 gallons. 
1 cubic foot of water weighs 62.5 pounds. 
1 horsepower equals 550 foot-pounds per second. 



DISCHAKGE OF STREAMS. 53 

1 horsepower equals 746 watts. 

1 horsepower equals 1 second-foot falling 8.80 feet. 

1.J horsepower equals about 1 kilowatt. 

, , . , - Second-feet X fall in feet ^ , 

To calculate water power quickly: jr = net horsepower on 

water wheel realizing 80 per cent of theoretical power. 

DATA GIVEN. 

The tables containing records of run-off for each drainage basin are 
preceded by a brief description of general conditions within the basin, 
covering such features as area, topography, watercourses, geology, 
forestation, rainfall, distribution of ground and winter ice, storage, 
and power possibilities. 

The following data are given, so far as practicable, for each regular 
current-meter gaging station: Description of station, list of discharge 
measurements, table of daily gage heights and discharges including 
mean per square mile, and run-off, depth in inches on drainage area, 
for monthly periods or for shorter intervals at the beginning and end 
of the records. 

In addition to statements regarding the establishment of current- 
meter stations and the location and character of gages and measuring 
sections, information is given in regard to any conditions which may 
affect the constancy of the relation of gage height to discharge, such 
as ice, shifting channel conditions, and backwater; also notes regard- 
ing diversions which decrease the total flow at the measuring section. 
Statements are also made regarding the accuracy and reliability of 
the data. 

The discharge-measurement table gives the results of the discharge 
measurements made during the year, including the date, gage height, 
and discharge in second-feet; also the name of the engineer where it 
is desired to give credit to cooperating parties. 

The table of daily gage heights and discharges gives the daily 
fluctuations of the surface of the river as found from the mean of the 
gage readings taken each day, and the corresponding volume of dis- 
charge as found from the rating table. At stations that were easily 
accessible the gage was read in the morning and in the evening. The 
gage height given in the table represents the elevation of the surface 
of the water above the zero of the gage. All gage heights that are 
rendered more ar less inaccurate by the presence of ice or by backwater 
from obstructions are published as recorded, with suitable footnotes. 
The rating is not applicable for such periods unless the proper correc- 
tion to the gage heights is known and applied. Attention is called to 
the fact that the zero of the gage is placed at an arbitrary datum and 
has no relation to zero flow or to the bottom of the river. In general, 
the zero is located somewhat below the lowest known flow, so that 
negative readings shall not occur. 



54 SUEFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

The discharge measurements and gage heights are the base data 
from which the rating tables and daily discharge tables are computed. 
The rating table gives, either directly or by interpolation, the dis- 
charge in second-feet corresponding to every stage of the river 
recorded during the period for which it is applicable. It is not pub- 
lished in this report, but can be plotted from the gage heights and 
corresponding discharge in the manner indicated on page 57, 

FIELD METHODS OF MEASURING STREAM FLOW. 

There are three distinct methods of determining the flow of open- 
channel streams: (1) By measurements of slope and cross section 
and the use of Chezy's and Kutter's formulas; (2) by means of a 
weir or dam; or (3) by measurements of the velocity of the current 
and of the arcEi of the cross section. The method chosen depends on 
the local physical conditions, the degree of accuracy desired, the funds 
available, and the length of time that the record is to be continued. 

Slofe method. — ^Much information has been collected relative to the 
coefficients to be used in the Chezy formula, v = cV^ This formula 
has been utilized by Kutter, both in developing his formula for c and 
in determining the values of the coefficient n which appears therein. 
The results obtained by the slope method are in general only roughly 
approximate, owing to the difficulty in obtaining accurate data and 
the uncertainty of the value for n to be used in Kutter's formula. 
The most common use of this method is in estimating the flood dis- 
charge of a stream when the only data available are the cross section, 
the slope as shown by marks along the bank, and a knowledge of the 
general conditions. It is seldom used by the United States Geological 
Survey and has never been applied in Alaskan work. For full 
information regarding the method the reader is referred to textbooks 
on hydraulics. 

Weir method. — Relatively few stations are maintained at weirs or 
dams by the United States Geological Survey. The only weir records 
kept in Seward Peninsula were on streams on the north side of the 
Kigluaik Mountains. The weirs were installed by men cooperating 
with the Survey, and the data, which are here published, are the only 
records of discharge available on these streams. Standard types of 
sharp-crested and broad-crested weirs within the limits for which 
accurate coefficients have been experimentally obtained give accurate 
records of discharge if properly maintained.^ The proper installa- 
tion of weirs in the Alaskan work is out of the question on account of 
expense, the torrential character of the run-off, and the temporary 
nature of the stations. 

1 The determination of discharge over the different types of weirs and dams is treated fully in "Weir 
experiments, coefficients, and formulas" (Water-Supply Paper U. S. Geol. Sm'vey No. 200) and in text- 
books on hydraulics. 



mSCHARGE OF STREAMS. 



65 



Velocity method. — Great care is taken in the selection and equip- 
ment of gagiag stations for determiaing discharge by velocity measure- 
ments, in order that the data may have the required degree of accu- 
racy. The stations are located, as far as possible, at such points that 
the relation between gage height and discharge will always remain 
constant for any given stage. In sparsely settled areas, such as those 
under consideration, the engineer is greatly handicapped in his selec- 
tion by the necessity of finding an observer, and on many streams 
there is only one point where readings can be obtained. 

A gaging station consists essentially of a gage for determining the 
daily fluctuations of stage of the river and a section where discharge 




Figure 7.— Cross section of stream showing method of measming. 

measurements are made. On large streams some equipment, such as 
a bridge or cable, is necessary; on small streams the measurements 
can be made by wading at any convenient section near the gage. 

The two factors required to determine the discharge of a stream 
past a section perpendicular to the mean direction of the current are 
the area of the cross section and the mean velocity of flow normal to 
that section. 

In making a measurement with a current meter a number of points, 
called measuring points, are measured off above and in the plane of 
the measuring section at which observations of depth and velocity 
are taken. (See fig. 7.) These points are spaced equally for those 
parts of the section where the flow is uniform and smooth and are 
spaced unequally for other parts, according to the discretion and 



56 SUKFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAKD PENINSULA. 

judgment of the engineer. In general the points should not be 
spaced farther apart than 5 per cent of the channel width, nor than 
the approximate mean depth at the time of measurement. 

The measuring points divide the total cross section into elementary 
strips at each end of which observations of depth and velocity are 
made. The discharge of any elementary strip is the average of the 
depths at the two ends times the width of the strip times the 
average of the mean velocities at the two ends of the strip. The 
sum of the discharges of the elementary strips is the total discharge 
of the stream.^ 

Depths for the determination of the area are obtained in wading 
measurements by sounding with the rod to which the meter is 
attached. 

Two methods of determining the velocity of flow of a stream are 
in general use — the float method and the current-meter method. 

The float method is now considered obsolete in the ordinary prac- 
tice of the United States Geological Survey, but as float measure- 
ments can readily be made by the prospector the method is here 
described. The floats in common use are the surface, subsurface, 
and tube or rod floats. A corked bottle with a flag in the top and 
weighted at the bottom makes one of the most satisfactory surface 
floats, and it is affected but little by wind. In flood measurements 
good results can be obtained by observing the velocity of floating 
cakes of ice or debris. In all surface float measurements the observed 
velocity must be multiplied by 0.85 to 0.95 to reduce the surface 
velocity to the mean velocity. The subsurface and tube or rod floats 
are intended to give directly the mean velocity in the vertical. 
Tubes give excellent results when the channel conditions are good, 
as in canals. In measuring velocity by a float, observation is made 
of the time taken by the float to pass over the ^'run" — a selected 
stretch of river or creek with an approximately uniform cross section 
from 50 to 200 feet long. In each discharge measurement a large 
number of velocity determinations are made at different points across 
the stream, and from these observations the mean velocity for the 
whole section is determined. The area used in float measurements 
is the mean of the areas at the two ends of the run and at several 
intermediate sections. 

The Price current meter is now used almost to the exclusion o:^ 
other types of meters by the United States Geological Survey in the 
determination of the velocity of flow of water in open channels, a 
use for which it is adapted under practically aU conditions. The 
small Price acoustic and electric meters (PL V, A) were the types 
used in the work in Seward Peninsula. Briefly, the meter consists of 

1 For a discussion of methods of computing the discharge of a stream see Engineeriag News, June 25, 
1908. 



DISCHAEGE OF STKEAMS. 57 

six cups attached to a vertical shaft, which revolves on a conical 
hardened steel point when immersed in moving water. The number 
of revolutions is indicated acoustically or electrically. The ratiag, or 
relation between the velocity of the moving water and the revolu- 
tions of the wheel, is determined for each meter by drawing it 
through stLQ water for a given distance at different speeds and noting 
the number of revolutions for each run. From these data a rating 
table is prepared which gives the velocity per second of moving 
water for any number of revolutions in a given time interval. The 
ratio of revolutions per second to velocity of flow in feet per second 
is very nearly a constant for all speeds, and is approximately 0.45. 

Practically all the measurements with the acoustic meter were 
made by wading. Three methods of measuring the velocity were 
used. In the first the meter is held at the depth of the thread of 
mean velocity, which has been shown by extensive experiments to 
occur at about 0.6 of the total depth. In the second method the 
mean of the velocities taken at 0.2 and 0.8 depth is taken as the 
mean. In the third method the meter is held at mid depth, at about 
0.1 of the total depth below the surface, and at the same distance 
above the bottom, and one-fourth of the sum of the top and bottom 
readings and twice the mid-depth reading is used as the mean. This 
method is not adapted to very shallow streams or to those with 
extremely rough beds. 

The determination of the flow of an ice-covered stream is difiicult, 
owing to the diversity and instability of conditions during the win- 
ter and also to lack of definite information in regard to the laws of 
flow of water under ice. The requirements of the work in Seward 
Peninsula have not necessitated the making of ice experiments. 

OFFICE METHODS OF COMPUTING AND STUDYING DISCHARGE 

AND HUN-OFF. 

At the end of each season the field or base data for current-meter 
gaging stations, consisting of daily gage heights, discharge measure- 
ments, and full notes, are assembled. The measurements are plotted 
on cross-section paper and rating curves are drawn wherever feasible. 
(See figs. 8 and 9.) The rating tables prepared from these curves 
are then applied to the tables of daily gage heights to obtain discharges, 
and from these the monthly discharge and run-off are computed. 

Streams in general present throughout their courses to a greater 
or less extent all conditions of permanent, semipermanent, and vary- 
ing conditions of flow. In accordance with the location of the measur- 
ing section with respect to these physical conditions, current-meter 
gaging stations may in general be divided into four classes: (1) 
Those with permanent conditions of flow, (2) those with beds that 



68 



SUBFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



change only during extreme high water, (3) those with beds that 
change frequently but do not cause a variation of more than about 
5 per cent in the discharge curves from year to year, and (4) those 
with constantly shifting beds. In determining the daily flow differ- 
ent office methods are necessary for each class. 

The rating curves are drawn and studied with special reference to 
the class of channel conditions which they represent. The discharge 
measurements for all classes of stations, when plotted with gage 
heights in feet as ordinates and discharges in second-feet as abscissas, 
define rating curves which are generally more or less parabolic in 
form. For many stations curves of area in square feet and mean 
velocity in feet per second are also constructed to the same scale of 




60 90 120 150 180 2 0„ 240 270 300 

Discharge in secc 

Figure 8. — Discharge curves for Henry Creek at mouth. 



330 360 



ordinates as the discharge curve. These are used mainly to extend 
the discharge curves beyond the limits of the plotted discharge 
measurements, and for checking, in order to avoid errors in the form 
of the discharge curve and to determine and eliminate erroneous 
measurements. 

The following assumptions are made for the period of application 
of every rating table: (a) That discharge is a function of and in- 
creases gradually with the stage of a stream; (&) that the discharge is 
the same whenever the stream is at a given stage, and hence such 
changes in conditions of flow as may have occurred during the period 
of application are either compensating or negligible, except that the 
rating as stated in the footnote of each table is not applicable for 



DISCHAKGE OF STKEAMS. 



59 



the known presence of ice or other similar obstructions; (c) that 
increased and decreased discharge due to change of slope on rising 
and falling stages is either negligible or compensating. 

As already stated, the gaging stations may be divided into several 
classes. Nearly all the stream-gaging stations in Seward Peninsula 
are of the second class, being located on streams whose beds change 
only during extreme high water. The typical river channel consists 
of a wide gravel bed, perhaps 100 yards or more across, which the 
stream fills at high stages and across which it meanders from side to 
side during low water. The detritus is generally well rounded and 
requires only a moderately high velocity to move it. A good-sized 
flood, especially if it occurs in the summer or early fall, when the 




10 


20 


30 


4-0 SO 60 . 


70 


80 





5 


10 


15 20 25 
Area in square feet 


30 


35 



Figure 9. — Discharge, area, and mean velocity curves for Canyon ditch at intake. 

ground is well thawed, may cause a radical change in channel con- 
ditions. In certain sections of the Alaska streams these changes 
take place, if at all, only during the highest floods, such as occur on 
an average of not more than once a year, and it is the aim to make 
use of these sections as far as possible for the location of gaging sta- 
tions. It has generaUy been necessary to obtain frequent measure- 
ments at aU stations to detect changes in channel and define the 
rating for each period between high stages. 

There are few outcrops of bedrock on the rivers measured, and only 
here and there has it been possible to place a gage above one of these, 
thus eliminating changes in control and providing a station of the 
first class. Similar conditions occur locally in the lava country or 



60 SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 

in the heavily glaciated area in the mountains, where the stream 
beds are composed of large angular fragments. In these places it is 
usually diflScult to find a satisfactory section where accurate measure- 
ments can be made. 

Channels that are constantly shifting (class 4) are commonly 
found only where mining operations just above throw a large amount 
of coarse and fine debris into the stream. If it is possible to go 
downstream several miles from the mines a point can be selected 
where the coarse debris has all settled. The fine '^slickens'' which 
the stream still carries are deposited only in pools and not on the rif- 
fles, the permanency or shift of which is the largest factor in deter- 
mining the stability of the relation of gage height and discharge. 

Some stations on streams carrying much mining debris approxi- 
mate the condition of the third class — that is, there is a deposition 
of sediment at low water which is carried out during the next flood. 
In such localities the change in the channel is small and temporary. 

Good results can be obtained from stations of the fourth class only 
by frequent discharge measurements, the frequency varying from a 
measurement every two or three weeks to a measurement every day, 
according to the rate of diurnal change in conditions of flow. These 
measurements are plotted and a mean or standard curve drawn 
among them. It is assumed that there is a different rating curve 
for every day of the year, and that this rating is parallel to the stand- 
ard curve with respect to their ordinates. On the day of a measure- 
ment the rating curve for that day passes through that measurement. 
For days between successive measurements it is assumed that the 
rate of change is uniform^ and hence the ratings for the intervening 
days are equally spaced between the ratings passing through the two 
measurements. This method must be modified or abandoned 
altogether under special conditions. 

ACCURACY AND LIMITATIONS OF THE DATA. 

Practically all discharge measurements made under fair conditions 
are well within 5 per cent of the true discharge at the time of observa- 
tion. Inasmuch as the errors of meter measurements are largely 
compensating, the mean rating curve when well defined is much 
more accurate than the individual measurements. Numerous tests 
and experiments have been made to test the accuracy of current-meter 
work. These show that where conditions are good it compares very 
favorably with the results from standard weirs. 

The accuracy of the gage heights depends on the reUability of the 
observers and, owing to the general interest in and knowledge of the 
value of the data in Alaska, the readings are generally good. 

It is obvious that one gage reading a day does not always give the 
mean height for that day. Almost invariably, however, errors from 



DISCHAKGE OF STKEAMS. 61 

this source are compensating and virtually negligible in a period of 
a month, although a single day's reading may, when taken by itself, 
be considerably in error. 

The maximum and minimum figures, from the very nature of 
collecting such data, are liable to considerable errors. The maxi- 
mum value should be increased for many stations in considering 
designs for spillways, and the minimum value should be regarded as a 
mean for a group of seven days or more, rather than for one day. 

The purpose of the work discussed in this report was to obtain 
data on the water supply available for hydraulic mining. Water to 
be of use for hydraulicking must be available under considerable 
pressure. When it is necessary to divert water from one basin into 
another, it must be taken out at an elevation high enough to allow 
it to be carried over the divides. The gaging stations, therefore, in 
order to give the desired results, had to be located at points near 
the headwaters, at considerable elevations, and some of them were 
far from any settlements. At many such locaHties it was impossible 
to find observers to take daily gage readings. Under such circum- 
stances readings were made only at intervals of three or four days 
to a week. From these approximate daily discharges could be 
obtained with the aid of a hydrograph (see fig. 1, p. 20), by plotting 
time as ordinates and discharges in second-feet as abscissas and 
drawing an irregular curve through these points. As all the streams 
in any drainage basin are affected by practically the same climatic 
influences, they rise and fall synchronously, and their hydrographs, 
if plotted to the same scale of days, follow one another more or less 
closely. Advantage is taken of this fact to interpolate the dis- 
charges for days when records are missing on some of the streams 
in a basin. Kesults obtaiued in this way are rather rough but are 
believed to be of greater value than isolated discharge measurements 
for the (Jays when the station was visited. In using them due allow- 
ance should be made for the uncertainties of the record. 

For many streams on which only a few measurements were made, 
no estimate of daily discharge has been attempted. 

The computations have, as a rule, been carried to three significant 
figures. Crelle's tables and the 20-inch slide rule have been generally 
used, and all calculations have been carefully checked. After the 
computations have been completed they are entered ia tables and 
carefully studied and intercompared to eliminate or account for all 
gross errors so far as possible. Missing periods are filled in, so far as 
feasible, by means of comparison with adjacent streams. The 
attempt is made to complete periods of discharge, thus ehminating 
fragmentary and disjointed records. Full notes accompanying such 
estimates follow the discharge tables. 



62 



SUKFACE WATEB SUPPLY OP SEWAKD PENINSULA. 



DRAINAGE AREAS. 

Many persons desire records of steam flow at places other than 
that where the Survey's discharge measurements are made. In 
order that the engineer may estimate the flow at such a place, 
he nrast know the drainage area of the stream both at the point of 
measnrement and at the point where the flow is desired. In order 
to supply this need to some extent, a table of drainage areas has 
been prepared for practically all the river basins of Seward Peninsula. 
The best available maps have been used — the maps of the Nome. 
Grand Central, Solomon, and Casadepaga quadrangles for the areas 
which they cover and the smaller-scale reconnaissance maps for the 
remainder of the peninsula. Portions of these reconnaissance maps 
differ considerably in accuracy, according to whether the topographic 
features were carefuUy surveyed ot seen only at a distance and 
sketched jn roughly. The accuracy of the areas as measured on the 
maps differs correspondingly. In general the portions of the maps 
showing the moxmtaiQ areas surrounding the Fish Kiver flats, the 
north side and east end of the Kigluaik Range, and the Serpentiae 
River drainage basin are only approxitnately correct. Small areas 
are, of course, liable to much greater proportional errors than large 
ones- 

In the table tributaries are shown by iadention under the name of 
the stream iato which they flow; for example, in the Fish River basui 
Pargon and Niuklnk rivers flow iuto the Fish, American Creek and 
Casadepaga River iato the Ninkliik, etc. 

Drainage areas in Seward Peninsula, AlasTca. 



stream. 


Locality. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Drainage 
area. 


Koyuk Eiver basia: 

Koyui KivBr 


Below TTTinwles Creelr 


Feet. 


Sq. miles. 
210 




Below Big Bar Creek 




477 




Below First Cbance Creek 




648 


Knowles Creek 


Mouth 




36 


Big Bar Creek 


do 




62 


First Qiance Creek 


.do 




133 


Tubntulik Eiver basin: 

TVilrrrtnlilr RiTTTsr .....,, 


Lower end of flats (Death Valley) 




125 




Mouth 




417 


Fish B,iver basin: 

Fiah River 


Lower end of flats 


ol80 

040 



6 730 

6 610 

a 200 

a 390 

cl50 

135 

olOO 

o85 

08O 

am 

a 600 
C480 


1,040 

1,980 

2,110 

20 




Below Niukluk River 




White MmTntAin ... 


Pargon River .. ,. 


Pargon (Wild Goose) ditch intake . 




Miocene ditch intake 


36 




Mouth 


153 


NinktnV R.TVfir 


Below Shoestring Creek 


77 




Below Casadepaga River 


552 




Below Goldbottom Creek 


603 




Below Ophir Creek 


715 




At Coimcil (above Melsiag Creek) 


726 




Below Melsing Creek 


756 




Mouth 


825 


American Creek. 


Below Auburn Ravine , 


13 




Below Game Creek 


24 



• Fxtnn reconnaissance topographic maps. 6 From railroad or ditch level^. 

c From topographic maps. 



DISCHAKGE OF STEEAMS. 63 

Drainage areas in Seward Peninsula, Alaska — Continued. 



Stream. 


Locality. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Drainage 
area. 


Fish River basin— Continued. 
Fish River— Continued. 

Niukluk River— Continued. 

P.sLQaripnaP'a River 


Above Upper Willow Creek 


Feet. 
a 500 
MOO 
fc310 
b305 
6 270 
6 240 
6 235 
6195 
6195 
6155 
6 485 
6 400 
6 460 
6 310 
6 400 
6 305 
6 510 

6 355 
6 270 
6 355 
6 330 
6 240 
6 400 
6 235 
6 400 
6 330 
6 325 
6195 
6 400 
6 330 
6 400 
6 325 
6 400 
6195 
6180 


Sq. miles. 
29 






47 




Below Ruby Creek 


64 




Below Lower Willow Creek 


83 






114 




Below Goose Creek 


132 




Below Penelope Creek 


138 




Below Big Four Creek 


195 




Below No Man Creek 


201 




Mouth 


236 


Moonlight Creek 


Ditch intake . . 


.81 


Mouth , 


1.0 


Rubv Creek 


Ditch intake 


2.9 




Mouth 


6.0 


Lo^er Willow Creek 


Above Ridgeway Creek 


15.4 




Mouth 


19.0 


Canyon Creek 


Intake Canyon Creek Gold Mining Co.'s 

ditch. 
Below Boulder Creek 


4.6 




22 




Mouth 


24 


Boulder Creek 


do .... 


5.0 




Ditch intake 


4.1 




Mouth 


12.7 




Ditch intake 


3.5 




Mouth 


6.2 


Big Four Creek 


5>i -miles fibnye Birnh Creek 


16.5 




Below Castle Creek 


26 




Below Birch Creek 


35 




Mouth 


44 


Castle Creek 


3 mile nbove moiith 


4.2 




Mouth 


4.7 


Birch Creek . 


1 mile above mouth ^ 


8.1 




Mouth 


9.2 


No Man Creek 




4.7 




Mouth 


7.1 


Bonanza Creek 


Mouth 

Below Warm Creek 


20 


Goldbottom Creek . 


40 




Mouth 


cl35 




Warm Creek. „.,. 


do 


13.8 


Ophir Creek. 


Canyon ditch intake 


c390 
c230 
c210 
cl90 
clOO 
c230 
c210 
cl90 
cl20 
c80 
clOO 


24 




Below Crooked Creek 


31 




Below Guy Creek 


41 




Below Dutch Creek 


54 




Mouth 


71 


Crooked Creek 


do 


4.6 


Guy Creek 


do 


2.5 


Dutch Creek 


do 


12.0 


S weetcake Creek 


do 


8.6 


Melsing Creek 


do 


30 


Bear River 




33 


Fox River ... 


Dam site 


15.2 




Edge of foothills 




37 




Mouth . . . 


c30 
6 285 


72 


Klokerblok River basin: 

Klokerblok River 


Topkok ditch intake 


4.3 




Below Skookum River 


58 




Mouth 



6 285 
6 300 


129 


O'Brien Creek 


Topkok ditch intake 


3.5 




Do 


6 6 




Mouth 


26 


Goldbottom Creek 


Topkok ditch intake . . 


6 300 



6 250 

6 245 

6 146 

6 85 

6 45 



6 480 

6 250 

6 475 

6 470 

6 245 

l»307 

ft 146 


3 2 


Topkok River basin: 

Topkok River 


Mouth (not including Rock Creek) 

Below Coal Creek 


14 5 


Solomon River basin: 

Solomon River 


37 




Below Johns Creek 


40 




Below East Fork 


66 




Below Big Hurrah Creek 


87 




Below Shovel Creek 


120 




Mouth 


134 


Coal Creek « 


Ditch intake 


9 5 




Mouth 


27 


Boise Creek 


Ditch intake 


3.3 


Victoria Creek 


do 


2 9 


Johns Creek 


Mouth 


3,4 


East Fork 


Ditch intake 


9.1 




Mouth 


17.2 



From railroad or ditch levels. 6 From topographic 

c From reconnaissance topographic maps. 



64 SUKFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

Drainage areas in Seward Peninsula, Alaska — Continued. 



Stream. 


Locality. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Drainage 
area. 


Solomon River basin — Continued. 
Solomon River — Ck)ntinued. 


Power ditch intake 


Feet, 
a 295 
a 185 

o85 
222 
a 100 

o45 


Sq. miles. 
2 2 




Midnight Sun intake 


12 8 




Mouth 

do 


17.4 
5 4 


RhoTTpl P,rpplr 


Above Mystery Creek 


17 9 




Mouth 


23 


Eldorado River basin: 

FldnrnHn T?ivpr 


Below Venetia Creek 


51 




Below Pajara Creek 




114 




Mouth 




128 




....do 




21 


Fox Creek 


do 




13 5 


Flambeau River basin: 

Flamhpan Rivpr - 


Elevation of Darling Creek di^'ide 


o 1,020 

285 



575 
O450 
O408 
o320 
0184 

75 

O20 

o 1,000 
O760 
O610 
o577 
O590 
487 
O500 
425 
o425 
375 
O400 
O330 
500 

375 
295 
O270 
184 
O290 

a 75 
O360 
oioo 
387 
387 
o370 
ol40 

o20 
387 

225 

225 

ol70 

85 

O40 



o490 

225 

485 

ol70 

ol20 

o40 

olio 

olO 

olO 

6120 



2 8 




Intake Flambeau Hastings ditch 


8 4 




Mouth : 


63 


Nome River basin: 

Nome River . ............ . 


Miocene ditch intake below Buffalo Creek. 


15 




25 




Seward ditch intake 


28 




Pioneer ditch intake 


37 




Below Hobson Creek 


56 




Below Banner Creek ... 


81 




Below Osborn Creek 


142 




Mouth 


160 


Buffalo Creek 


Minerva intake 


3.8 




In canyon ... 


4 4 






8.2 




Mouth 


8 5 


David Creek 


Miocene ditch intake 


4.3 




Mouth 


4 7 


Dorothy Creek 




2.7 




Mouth 


2 8 


Alfield Creek 




4.4 




Mouth 


4 5 






2.1 




Mouth 


2 2 


Hobson Creek 


Miocene ditch intake 


2.6 




Seward ditch intake 


3 2 




Pioneer ditch intake 


3.5 




Below Manila at Pioneer pipe crosaing . . . 
Mouth 


5.1 
5.6 


Manila Creek 


.do 


1 43 


Banner Creek 


do 


3.0 


Buster Creek 


Below Goodluck Gulch 


60 




Below Lilhan Creek 


4 8 


New Eldorado Creek ........ 


Mouth 


5 6 


Osborn Creek 


Below Bonita Creek 


10.5 




Peninsula Hydraulic Mining Co.'s intake.. 
French ditch intake 


10.9 
23 




Mouth 


32 


Bonita Creek 


do 


4.9 


Snake River basin: 

Goldbottom Creek 


.do 


7.8 


Snake River 


Below Grouse Creek 


13 8 




Below North Fork 


32 




Below Boulder Creek 


58 




Below Glacier Creek 


77 




Mouth 


110 


Grouse Creek 


Miocene ditch intake 


1.2 




Mouth 


6.1 


Cold Creek . 


Miocene ditch intake 


1.6 


North Fork 


Mouth 


15.9 


Glacier Creek 


Below Snow Gulch 


6.9 




Mouth 


8.1 


Anvil Creek 


Discovery ....... 


3.8 




Below Little Creek 


10.2 


Little Creek 


Mouth 


2.9 


Penny River basin: 

Penny River 


Sutton ditch intake (above Willow Creek). 
Mouth 


19 




36 


Cripple River basin: 

Cripple River 


Below Aurora Creek 


8.4 




Cripple River Hydraulic Mining Co.'s 
ditch intake. 


6 400 


12.1 
34 




Below Arctic Creek 




84 




Mouth 




88 



u From topographic maps. 



b From reconnaissauce topographic maps. 



DISCHAKGE OF STEEAMS. 65 

Drainage areas in Seward Peninsula, Alaska — Continued. 



stream. 


Locality. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Drainage 
area. 


Sinuk River basin: 

Sinuk River 


Level of ditch to Buffalo divide 


Feet. 

o 1,025 
a 770 
«700 

a 520 


Sq. miles. 
3.4 




Below Upper Lake 


6 2 




Lower measuring section, 1^ miles below 

Upper Lake. 
Below Windy Creek 


8.2 
31 






73 








147 




Below American Creek ... .. 




190 








238 




Mouth 



61,100 
O800 
670 
O520 
«900 
O540 


300 


Windy Creek 


Level of ditch from Buffalo divide 

Below Upper Lake . . . 


5.9 




9 






12 




Mouth .... 


18 


North Star Creek .... 


In canyon 


2 3 




Mouth 


2.8 


Glacial Lake 


Outlet 


17 


Stewart River 


Below Slate Creek 


575 
0564 
O505 
MOO 


6.4 




Below Lost Creek 


11 2 




Below Silver Creek 


20 




2 nules below Mountain Creek 


36 




Mouth 


53 


Slate Creek 


Measuring section 


fl700 
575 
«564 
«505 

C400 
C200 


2.1 




Mouth 


3.1 


Lost Creek 


do 


4.8 


Silver Creek 


do 


4.3 


Tisuk River basin: 

Tisuk River 


5 miles above McAdam Creek 


9.6 






20 


Bluestone River basin: 

Bluestone River 




36 




Below Right Fork 




77 




Mouth 




117 


Rieht Fork 


do 




37 


Tuksuk Channel or Imuruk Basin 
drainage: 
Tuksuk Channel 


. ...do 




f450 


4,230 
30 


Canyon Creek 


Intake of proposed ditch to Gold Run 

Mouth 




79 


Cobblestone River 


11 miles below mouth of Oro Grande Creek. 
Mouth 


d500 


6 1,010 
6 850 
d690 
d680 
O550 
O460 
«442 
6 925 

6 1,030 

6 860 
'^750 
^690 
720 
O800 
a 785 
O610 
465 
O800 
615 
800 
O450 
O900 
O700 
0445 
06OO 

0442 
^370 

6 248 

6 248 




58 




84 


Grand Central River basin: 

West Fork of Grand Central River. . 


Pipe intake 


2.8 




Ditch intake 


5.4 




At the forks 


7.7 


Grand Central River 




14.6 




Below Thompson Creek 


23 




Below Nugget Creek 


44 




Mouth 


56 


Crater Lake Outlet 


\ mile below lake 


1.8 


North Fork Grand Central 


Pipe intake 


2.3 


River. 


Ditch intake 


5.4 






5.5 




At the forks 


6.9 


Thompson Creek 




2.5 


Thumit Creek 


Above mouth of canyon 


.73 


Nugget Creek 




2.1 




Below Copper Creek 


5.4 




Mouth 


6.5 


Copper Creek 


Miocene ditch intake 


.85 




Mouth 


1.2 


Jett Creek 


Miocene ditch intake 


1.4 




Mouth 


2.7 


Morning Call Creek 




L32 




Below springs 


1.90 




Mouth 


4.1 


Rainbow Creek 


1 mile above mouth . . , 


1.81 


Kruzgamepa River basin: 


Outlet of Salmon Lake 


84 




Sliscovitch roadhouse, 1 mile below Crater 

Creek. 
Gaging station above Iron Creek 


124 
153 




Below Iron Creek 


205 




Mouth 


474 



o From topographlo maps. 
6 From railroad or ditch levels. 

63851°— wsp 314—13 6 



c From reconnaissance topographic 
<J From barometer readings. 



66 SUKFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

Drainage areas in Seward Peninsula, Alaska — Continued, 



stream. 


Locality. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Drainage 
area. 


Krtizgamepa River basin— Continued. 
Kruzganaepa River — Continued. 
Fox Creek, 


Moutli of canyon 


Feet. 
O550 
0442 
6 630 
6 630 
630 


Sq. miles. 
11 




Mouth 


12 


Telegram Creek. .. 


do 


5.4 


Dome Creek 


Below Eldorado Creek ,.. 


11 2 




Below Hardluck Creek.. 


12.3 


Iron Creek. 


Below Left Fork 


14 9 




Below Discovery Creek 


6 475 
6 460 
6425 
C280 
C248 
6 750 

6 630 
6 740 

6 475 
6 760 

6 450 

40 


23 






38 




Above Goldengate Mining Co.'s intake 


40 
50 




Mouth 

Gold Beach Development Co.'s ditch in- 
take. 
Mouth . 


52 
5.4 




6.8 




Gold Beach Development Co.'s ditch in- 
take. 
Mouth 


6.1 




8.9 


Canyon Creek... 


Gold Beach Development Co.'s ditch in- 
take. 
Mouth 

Lanes Landing.^ 


4.1 


Kuzitrin River basin: 
Kuzitrin River 


14 

1,750 

1,890 

160 




Mouth 




Below Berry Creek 






Above Goose Creek 




340 


Berry Creek . . 


Mouth... 




70 




Trail crossing 




30 


Aurora Creek 


NearmouthT.. 




28 


East Fork 


Mouth 




82 


Turner Creek 


McKays intake 




13 


Boulder Creek 


Claim "No. 5 above" 




6.5 




Mouth 




6 860 
C635 
C433 
d410 
<5 356 
C341 
C320 
C210 
d60 
860 
C670 
C610 
«480 
«440 
C700 
C580 
d480 
C433 
410 
d400 
d390 
d375 


200 


Kougarok River basin: 

Kougarok River 


Below Washington Creek , 


16.7 


Homestake ditch intake ... .. . 


44 




Below Taylor Creek 


171 




Below Henry Creek 


225 




Head of big bend above Coarse Gold Creek 
Below Coarse Gold Creek 


254 

288 




Below North Fork 


358 




Below Windy Creek 


430 




Mouth 


547 


Washington Creek 

Columbia Creek 


do 

do 


6.3 
11.6 


Mac-iilin Creek 


Above intake 


8.9 


Horn estake Creek. . 


Ditch intake 


2.9 




Mouth 


5.4 


Taylor Creek. ^ 


North Star ditch intake 


58 




Cascade ditch intake.... 


73 




North Star ditch siphon 


83 




Mouth 


90 


Henry Creek. ... . 


Mouth -. 


51 


Arctic Creek 


do 


6.3 


CalJomia Creek 

Arizona Creek 


do 

do 


3.9 
10 


Coarse Gold Creek 


Below Jones Gulch 


22 




Below Nugget Gulch.. i 




31 




Mouth 


C341 
d540 


34 


North Fork 


Northwestern ditch intake . . 


19.8 




Below Harris Creek 


54 




Gaging station above Eureka Creek 

Mouth 


d370 
C320 


66 
71 


Harris Creek 


At claim 15 


11.7 




Mouth 




22 


Eureka Creek 


do 


d370 


3.1 


Left Fork 


do 


5.4 


Windy Creek 


Above Anderson Gulch 




27 




Mouth 


210 


33 


Quartz Creek 


do 


67 


Coffee Creek 


do 




24 


Aglapuk River basin: 

Agiapuk River ,. 


Below Allene Creek 




324 




Below American River 




930 




Mouth 




1,120- 
47 


Allene Creek 


do 





o From topographic maps. 
6 From barometer readings. 
c From railroad or ditch levels. 



d From reconnaissance topographic maps. 
e Estimated. 



DISCHABGE OF STBEAMS. 

Drainage areas in Seward Peninsula^ Alaska — Continued. 



67 



Stream- 


LocaUty. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Drainage 
area. 


Agiapuk River basin— Continued. 
Agiapuk River— Continued. 
American River 


Below Budd Creek. . 


Feet. 


Sq. miles. 
380 




Mouth 




593 


Budd Creek 


At spring 




58 




Below Windy Creek. 




108 




Mouth 




114 


Igloo Creek 


do 




130 


Goodhope River basin: 

Right Fork .... 


Mouth 


o260 
a 100 


80 




Below Esperanza Creek 


194 




Below Humboldt Creek 


437 




Mouth 


6' 

c330 
O260 
330 
a 100 


500 


Cottonwood Creek 


Below Divide Creek- 


49 




Mouth 


67 


Divide Creek 


do 


10.6 


Esperanza Creek . ... 


do 


20 


Humboldt Creek 


do 


110 


Imnachuk River basin: 


Above Ein-eka Creek 


O210 
a 175 
aUO 
6 130 
6 125 
O60 

O500 
o450 
ol75 
O140 
6 125 

6 960 
C470 


8.6 




Below Hannum 


44 




"Rftlrtw PiTiTiftll River 


142 




Below Logan Gulch 


145 




Below Arizona Creek -. . 


160 




Above Cue Creek 


177 




Mouth 


240 


Hftnnnm Crp.ftlr ,-.,-,,. 


Bfllnw CnnninghAm 


11 




Below Milroy Ci-eek. 


16 




Mouth : 


34 


Pinnell River 


do 


96 


Arizona Creek 


do 


12 


Kugruk River basin: 

Imuruk Lake.. 


Outlet 


102 


Kugruk River 




162 


Below Holtz Creek 


396 




Above Reindeer Creek 




556 




1 mile ab#ve Chicago Creek 




578 




Mouth 




893 


Holtz Creek > ..^-.^.^ 


do 




141 


Chicago Creek 


Coal mine 




32 


Wade Creek (Burnt River) 


2 miles above mouth 




177 


Kiwalik River basin: 

Kiwalik River .^ ..,,. 






212 




Below Quartz Creek 


.......... 


336 




Below Hunter Creek 




596 




Above Candle Oeek 




740 




Below Candle Creek 


o2 
6 590 
6 580 
d570 


800 


Qnartz Creek -. 


North Fork at proposed ditch intake 

South Fork at proposed ditch intake 

Below forks 


21 




26 
56 




Mouth 


124 


Deer Creek 


do 


O550 
«430 


8 7 


Gold Rnn . . _ 


Pmposftd dit/>h intake 


9.0 
21 




Below Boulder Creek '..'..'.',"'.'. 




Mouth 




29 


Boulder Creek. 


Ditch intake 




4.0 


Glacier Creek 


Candle ditch intake 


6 409 


10.0 
14.0 




Below Rock Creek 




Mouth 




35 


Dome Creek 


Candle ditch intake 


6 383 
d230 
d510 
*500 


9.0 
16 






Hunter Creek 


Proposed ditch intake 


32 




1908 gaging station 


37 




Below Left Fork 


67 




Mouth 




108 


Candle Creek 


Below Patterson Creek 


6130 
o2 


37 
60 




Mouth 









a Estimated. 

b From railroad oi ditch levels. 



c From reconnaissance topographic maps. 
d From barometer readings. 



68 



SUKFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS AND MEASUREMENTS. 

FISH RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 
DESCRIPTION. 

Fish. River is one of the largest streams in southern Seward Penin- 
sula. It drains a large area south of the Bendeleben Mountains and 
discharges into Golofnin Sound. Its drainage area comprises 2,110 
square miles above tide at White Mountain and is composed of two 
large basins of about equal size, that of Fish River proper to the east, 
and that of Niukluk River to the west. Fish River receives many 
large and important tributaries, of which Pargon River and Niukluk 
River with its tributaries, Casadepaga River and Ophir Creek, are 
economically the most important. These streams wiU receive 
separate consideration. Fish River rises in the heart of the Bendel- 
eben Mountains and flows in a general southward direction. In its 
upper course it receives Boston Creek from the west and Mosquito 
Creek, Kathatulik and Etchepuk rivers, and Cache Creek from the 
east. 

Oregon and Baker creeks are good-sized tributaries of Boston Creek. 
They rise in the mountains and occupy large U-shaped valleys similar 
to that of Boston Creek, carved out by former glaciers. The side 
streams in the mountains also occupy glaciated U-shaped vaUeys. 
Upper Fish River presents two very diversified types of topography — 
the mountains, which are high and rugged with elevations up to 
about 3,500 feet, and the Fish River flats, a lowland basin surrounded 
by mountains and hills. There is some timber along the river in the 
flats, but otherwise the drainage basiQ is largely barren of trees. The 
Omilak silver mine, located on Omilak Creek, tributary to Mosquito 
Creek, is the only miae in this area, and the only silver mine ia this 
part of Alaska. The streams of this basin would furnish considerable 
power, but the area is, and probably always will remain, practically 
deserted. 

The following is a list of miscellaneous measurements made in the 
Fish River draiaage basin. 

Miscellaneous measurements in Fish River drainage ba^n. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to— 


T/OCAUty. 


Eleva- 
tion.ffl 


Dis- 
charge. 


Drainage 
area. 


Dis- 
charge 

per 
square 
mile. 


1909 
Aug. 21 

21 

21 

Sept. 14 


Boston Creek.. 

Baker Creek... 

Oregon Creek.. 
Fox River 


Fish River 

Boston Creek., 
do 


1 mile above edge of 

mountains, 
i mile above edge of 

mountains. 
At edge of mountains . . . 
Dam site at Fox River 

roadhouse. 


Feet. 
350 

450 

700 


Sec-ft. 
102 

2 

11.1 
11.7 


Sq. miles. 


Sec.-ft. 










Fish River 


15.2 


0.77 



• Approximate. 



FISH EIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 69 

PAEGON RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 
DESCRIPTION. 

Pargon River rises in the heart of the Bendeleben Mountains, 
between the headwaters of Boston Creek on the east and Niukluk River 
on the west. After flowing southeastward thr@ugh a U-shaped 
valley for about 15 miles it enters the Fish River flats, through which 
it winds for a somewhat longer distance, emptying into Fish River 
near the point where the latter stream leaves the fiats. It drains a 
total area of 153 square miles, of which about 50 square miles lies 
within the mountainous area. Its principal tributaries are DiUon, 
McKelvie, and Helen creeks from the west and Decarey and Lanagan 
creeks from the east in the mountains, and Duncan and Ready 
Bullion creeks in the flats. 

Its headwaters reach an elevation of about 2,800 feet. Chauik 
Mountain, at the head of Helen Creek, is 3,510 feet high. All the 
upper drainage basin of Pargon River has been glaciated, as is 
proved by the cirquelike heads of the valleys and the large deposits 
of morainic material at the mouths of the side canyons and of the 
main valley of the river. No glacial lakes have been formed and 
there are practically no springs within the area, but the high eleva- 
tions serve to furnish a good water supply at aU times during the 
mining season. The hills lying south of the lower course of the river 
are partly covered with a good growth of spruce, some of which has 
been used in flume construction on the Pargon ditch. The upper 
portion of the basin contains some thickets of alder, but is otherwise 
unforested. The divide between the extreme western portions of 
the Fish River flats, through which the Pargon flows, and the head of 
Ophir Creek is low, and advantage has been taken of it to divert the 
waters of Pargon River and its western tributaries into Ophir Creek, 
from which they are taken by a ditch lower down. The Pargon ditch 
is 11.2 miles long and has a capacity of about 36 second-feet in the 
lower portion. Gold has never been found in this basin in paying 
quantities, although considerable prospecting has been done. 

No stream measurements were made on Pargon River or the ditch 
until 1909. Several gages had been installed on the ditch system of 
the Wild Goose Mining & Trading Co. in earlier years, and records 
are available on two of them. A number of measurements made by 
engineers of the company were of great assistance in defining the 
ratings. The following stations have been maintained in this basin: 

Pargon River and Pargon ditch at intake, 1909. 
Pargon ditch below McKelvie Creek, 1908-9. 
Pargon ditch below Helen Creek, 1906-1909. 



70 



SUKPACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWABD PENINSULA. 



PARGON RIVER AND PARGON DITCH AT INTAKE. 

This station, which was established July 1, 1909, is located at the 
intake of the Pargon ditch of the Wild Goose Mining & Trading Co. 
The records on the ditch show the quantity of water diverted from 
Pargon River; those on the river show the quantity that flows over 
the diversion dam ; together they give the total discharge of the river 
available for the ditch. Records on this stream are also of consid- 
erable interest as showing the relative rates of run-off in the Bende- 
leben and Kigluaik mountains. 

Dillon and Decarey creeks enter the river from the west and east, 
respectively, within a mile below the station; the tributaries above 
the station are unnamed. The results obtained on the ditch are 
excellent. No measurements of the river were obtained when there 
was any considerable amount of water running over the dam, and the 
gage readings prior to August 20, 1909, were taken from a gage which 
was poorly located. Records for the river are accordingly unsatis- 
factory, but the discharge over the dam is only a small portion of the 
total. There is probably a considerable amount of underground 
seepage past the station. 

The lowest average discharge recorded for one week is 10.5 second- 
feet from July 28 to August 3, 1909, but there was probably a slightly 
lower minimum in 1908. No maximum values have been recorded. 

Discharge ineaswements of Pargon River below intake of Pargon ditch in 1909. 

[Elevation, 730 feet] 



Date. 


Hydrographer. 


Gage Dis- 
height. charge. 


Aug. 20 
Sept. 18 


"F. F TTpinshaw -- 


Feet. 

0.35 

.25 


'"-{% 


do 


1.5 







Discharge measurements of Pargon ditch at intake in 1909. 



Date. 



Hydrogr^ker. 



Gage 
height. 



Dis- 



July 18 

Aug. 20 

Sept. 5 

18 



Lanagan and West 
F. F. Henshaw . . . 
Lanagan and West 
F. F. Henshaw., , 



Feet. 
1.46 
1.41 
1.27 
1.19 



Sec.^t. 
21.7 
20.3 
15.9 
14.8 



FISH RIVEB DRAINAGE BASIN. 



71 



Daily gage height, infeet^ and discharge, in second-feet, ofPargon River and P argon ditdi 

at intake for 1909. 









[Drainage area, 20 square miles. Observer, E. 


Decarey.] 








July. 


August. 


September. 




River. 


Ditch. 


River. 


Ditch. 


River. 


Ditch. 





Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


I 

3 

4 
5 

6 
7 
8 
9 
10 

11 
12 
13 
14 

15 

16 
17 
18 
19 
20 

21 
22 
23 
24 
25 

9fi 


0.85 
.95 
.85 

1.00 

.85 

1.10 

""."to' 

.75 
.70 

.85 
.75 
.70 
.55 
.55 

.45 

"":35' 
.35 




48 
62 

48 
70 

48 

89 
54 
29 
35 
29 

48 
35 
29 
16 
16 

9.0 
7.0 
4.5 
4.5 
2.0 

2.0 
1.5 
1.5 
1.5 
1.5 

1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 

.7 
.7 


""6.' 75" 

.76 
.92 

1.08 
1.08 
1.25 
1.42 
1.42 

1.42 
1.46 
1.46 
1.54 
1.42 

1.42 
1.37 
1.33 
1.31 
1.17 

1.12 
1.14 
1.08 

':t 

.94 












5.4 

5.4 

8.2 

11.6 
11.6 
15.8 
20.6 
20.6 

20.6 
21.7 
21.7 
24.1 
20.6 

20.6 
19.1 
18.0 
17.4 
13.7 

12.5 
13.0 
11.6 
10.2 
9.4 
8.6 


"'6.' 75" 

.55 
.55 
.70 
.35 
.45 

.70 
.35 
.35 

"".'35" 

.30 
.25 
.22 
.22 
.20 

.20 
.20 
.20 
.20 
.25 
.22 


1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.5 
2.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.5 
35 

24 

16 

16 

29 
4.5 
9.0 

29 
4.5 
4.5 
4.5 
4.5 

2.8 
1.5 
1.0 
1.0 

.7 

.7 
.7 

:? 

1.5 
1.0 


0.94 
1.04 
.92 
1.33 
1.42 

1.25 
1.17 
1.10 
1.42 

1.33 
1.42 
1.33 
1.33 
1.33 

1.33 
1.42 
1.42 
1.42 
1.42 

1.42 
1.39 
1.35 
1.33 
1.31 

1.31 
1.29 
1.33 
1.31 
1.39 
1.33 


8.6 
10.7 

8.2 
18.0 
20.6 

15.8 
13.7 
12.0 
20.6 
20.0 

18.0 
20.6 
18.0 
18.0 
18.0 

18.0 
20.6 
20.6 
20.6 
20.6 

20.6 
19.7 
18.6 
18.0 
17.4 

17.4 
16.8 
18.0 
17.4 
19.7 
18.0 


0.22 
.22 
.22 
.22 
.22 

.22 
.22 
.22 
.22 
.22 

.22 
.22 
.22 
.28 
.25 

.28 
.25 
.25 
.22 
.22 

.22 
.22 
.22 

"".'22* 


1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
2.3 
1.5 

2.3 
1.5 
1.5 
1.0 
1.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 


1.35 
1.33 
1.29 
1.29 
1.27 

1.25 
1.23 
1.19 
1.17 
1.17 

1.12 
1.12 
1.10 
1.31 
1.29 

1.35 
1.23 
1.19 
1.12 
1.12 

1.17 
1.12 
1.10 

""i.os" 


18.6 
18.0 
16.8 
16.8 
16.3 

15.8 
15.2 
14.2 
13.7 
13.7 

12.5 
12.5 
12.0 

17.4 
16.8 

18.6 
15.2 
14.2 
12.5 
12.5 

13.7 
12.5 
12.0 
12.0 
11.6 


?7 










?« 










W 










30 










31 






















Mea 


Mean, 
n total . . 


22.5 
34.2 

1.71 
1.97 


".'.'".'. 


11.7 




6.54 
24.0 




17.5 




1.16 
14.6 




13.4 


Mean per 
square mile 








1.20 








.730 






Run-off, 
depth in 
inches on 
drainage 
area 








1.38 








.68 



























Note.— The combined discharges for the river and ditch give the total flow above the diversion dam. 
Values for the river are only approximate, as they were obtained from gage heights which were not of the 
highest accuracy by means of a rating table extended from measurements at low stages. They were com- 
puted in order to give a general idea of the total flow of the river. 



PARGON DITCH BELOW McKELVIE CREEK. 

Records at this station were begun July 1, 1908. The gage is 
located in a flume about 200 feet below the point where the McKelvie 
Creek lateral joins the main ditch and about 3 miles below the intake. 
The discharge of the ditch at this point shows the amount diverted 
from Pargon River and Dillon and McKelvie creeks, less the seepage 
in the upper 3 miles. 

The flume is permanently founded on rock, and the rating developed 
in 1909 is believed to apply closely to gage readings obtained in 1908. 



72 



SURFACE WATEE SUPPLY OE SEWAKD PENINSULA. 



The lowest discharge recorded for one week is 8.16 second-feet, 
July 23 to 29, 1908. The capacity of this portion of the ditch is 
about 26 second-feet. 

Discharge measurements of Pargon ditch below McKelvie Creek in 1909, 



Date. 



Hydrographer. 



Gage 
height. 



Dis- 
charge. 



July 18 

Aug. 19 

Sept. 5 

17 

18 

18 



Lanagan and West 
F. F. Henshaw . . . 
Lanagan and Ayer 
F. F. Henshaw ... 

do 

do 



Feet. 
1.60 
1.58 
1.35 
1.28 
.94 
1.24 



Sec. ft. 
26.1 
25.4 
18.9 
16.0 
8.4 
14.5 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Pargon ditch below McKelvie 

Creek for 1908. 

[Observer, E. Decarey.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gaire 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


\ 


1.33 
1.25 
1.42 
L58 
1.50 

L29 
1.29 
1.17 
1.08 
1.08 

1.17 
1.17 
1.17 
1.04 
1.04 

1.04 
1.04 
1.08 
1.00 
1.08 

1.04 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
.92 

.92 
.92 
.92 

.88 
1.58 
1.58 


17.7 
15.4 
20.4 
25.4 
22.8 

16.5 
16.6 
13.4 
11.2 
11.2 

13.4 
13.4 
13.4 
10.3 
10.3 

10.3 
10.3 
11.2 
9.4 
11.2 

10.3 
9.4 
9.4 
9.4 
7.8 

7.8 
7.8 
7.8 
7.1 
25.4 
25.4 


1.58 
1.58 
1.58 
1.50 


2.5.4 
25.4 
2.5.4 
22.8 


1.50 
1.50 
1..50 
1.50 
1.50 

1.58 
1.58 
1.58 
1.58 
1.58 

1.54 
1.54 


22.8 


2 


22.8 


8 


22.8 


4 


22.8 


5 


22.8 


6 


.75 
1.58 
L58 
1.58 
1.58 

1.58 

1.58 
1.58 
1.58 
1.58 

1.58 
1.58 
1.58 
1.58 
1.58 

1.54 
1.54 
1.54 
1.54 
1.50 

1.50 
1.52 
1.50 
1.50 
1. 50 
1.50 


5.0 
25.4 
25.4 
25.4 
25.4 

25.4 
25.4 
25.4 
25.4 
25.4 

25.4 
25.4 
25.4 
25.4 
25.4 

24.1 
24.1 
24.1 
24.1 
22.8 

22.8 
23.4 
22.8 
22.8 


25.4 


7 


25.4 


8 


25.4 


9 


25.4 


10 


25.4 


11 


24.1 


12 


24.1 


13 




14 






15 






16 






17 






18 






19 






20 






21 






22 






23 






24 






25 






26 






27 






28 






29 






30 


22.8 
22.8 






31 












Mean 




13.3 




23.1 




24.1 









FISH EIVEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 



73 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of P argon ditch below McKelvie 

Creel for 1909. 







[Observer, E 


. Decarey.l 










June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 






1.56 
1.56 
1.56 
1.56 

1.58 

1.58 
1.57 
1.58 
1.56 
1.58 

1.58 
1.57 
1.58 
1.66 
1.59 

1.57 
1.56 
1.60 
1.58 
1.54 

1.51 
1.44 
1.42 
1.28 
1.23 

1.17 
1.15 
1.11 
1.08 
1.08 
1.02 


24.7 
24.7 
24.7 
24.7 
25.4 

25.4 
25.0 
25.4 
24.7 
25.4 

25.4 
25.0 
25.4 
24.7 
25.7 

25.0 
24.7 
26.0 
25.4 
24.1 

23.1 
21.0 
20.4 
16.3 
14.9 

13.4 
12.8 
11.8 
11.2 
11.2 
9.8 


1.02 
1.07 
.99 
1.50 
1.49 

1.36 
1.25 
1.21 
1.12 
0.62 

1.58 
1.60 
1.58 
1.58 
1.59 

1.57 
1.58 
1.58 
1.58 
1.58 

1.58 
1.56 
1.52 
1.50 
1.47 

1.45 
1.42 
1.46 
1.46 
1.46 
1.42 


9.8 

10.9 
9.2 
22.8 
22.5 

18.6 
15.4 
14.4 
12.1 
3.3 

25.4 
26.0 
25.4 
25.4 
25.4 

25.0 
25.4 
25.4 
25.4 
25.4 

25.4 
24.7 
23.4 
22.8 
21.9 

21.3 
20.4 
21.6 
21.6 
21.6 
20.4 


1.44 
1.41 
1.36 
1.33 
1.36 

1.33 
1.29 
1.28 
1.22 
1.20 

1.21 
1.21 
1.17 
1.36 
1.35 

1.35 
1.32 
1.25 
1.21 
1.16 

1.17 
1.19 
1.19 
1.19 
1.13 


21.0 


2 






20.1 


3 






18.6 


4 






17.7 


5 






18.6 


6 






17.7 


7 






16.5 


8 






16.3 


9 






14.6 


10 






14.1 


11 






14.4 


12 






14.4 


13 






13.4 


14 






18.6 


15 






18.3 


16 






18.3 


17 






17.4 


18 






15.4 


19 






14.4 


20 






12.8 


21 






13.4 


22 


1.38 
1.42 
1.58 
1.56 

1.50 
1.63 
1.60 
1.33 
1.47 


19.2 
20.4 
25.4 
24.7 

22.8 
23.8 
22.8 
17.7 
21.9 


13.8 


23 


13.8 


24 


13.4 


25 


12.4 


26 




27 






28 






29 






30 






31 
















Mean 




22.1 




21.5 




20.6 




16.0 















PARGON DITCH BELOW HELEN CREEK. 

Records have been kept in the flume across Helen Creek since 1906 
by John Baker, the ditch walker. They show the amount of water 
that the ditch carries below Helen Creek, the lowest stream which it 
diverts. This point is about 4 miles above the outlet of the ditch 
into Ophir Creek. The loss by seepage in that distance is about 3 
second-feet, which should be deducted from the discharges at the 
station to give the quantity of water delivered to the Canyon 
ditch on Ophir Creek. The lateral flume to Helen Creek enters the 
main ditch about 40 feet below the gage, which is located in the upper 
end of the flume, but the gage readings are believed to be a true index 
of the discharge below the junction. Measurements are made in 
the two flumes, and the sum gives the total discharge of the ditch. 

The lowest recorded discharge for one week is 7.6 second-feet, July 
24 to 29, 1908, but this value is believed to be 5 or 6 second-feet too 



74 



SUKFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAKD PENINSULA. 



small, as shown by comparison with records at other stations. The 
capacity of the ditch below Helen Creek is practically 36 second-feet. 

Discharge measurements of P argon ditch below Helen Creek in 1909. 





Hydrographer. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


Date. 


Above 
Helen 
Creek 

lateral. 


Helen 
Creek 
lateral. 


Total. 


Aug. 19 

Sept. 17 

19 




Feet. 

1.56 
1.27 
1.19 


Sec.-ft. 
24.8 
15.6 
12.7 


Sec.-ft. 
6.1 
5.8 
6.6 


Sec.-ft. 
30.9 


do.? — 

do 


21.3 
18.3 



Daily gage height^ in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of P argon ditch below Helen Creek 

for 1906 and 1907. 

[Observer, John Baker.] 





1906 


1907 




July. 


August- 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September 




Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 






1.56 
L60 
1.50 
1.56 
1.65 

1.73 

al.42 

1.69 

1.67 

al.71 

1.71 
1.71 
1.67 

1.65 


31.0 
28.8 
28.8 
31.0 
34.2 

37.1 
13.0 
35.6 
34.9 
18.2 

36.4 
18.2 
17.4 
34.2 


15.8 
31.7 
31.7 
31.7 
34.9 

34.2 
33.1 
31.7 
31.7 
31.7 

15.8 





13.2 
21.9 
13.2 


1.71 
1.58 
1.58 
L58 
1.62 

1.62 
1.62 
1.62 
1.62 
1.62 

1.62 
1.42 

1.42 
1.58 
1.58 

1.58 

1.58 

1.58 

0.83 

.83 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 


36.4 
31.7 
31.7 
31.7 
33.1 

33.1 
33.1 
33.1 
33.1 
33.1 

33.1 
26.1 
26.1 
31.7 
31.7 

31.7 
31.7 
31.7 

4.5 



9.0 
13.2 
13.2 
13.2 
13.2 






1.66 
1.65 
1.66 
1.67 
1.65 

a 1.62 
1.65 
1.68 
1.66 
1.62 

1.62 
1.67 
1.65 
1.67 
1.62 

1.62 
1.17 
0.83 
1.21 
1.17 

1.12 
1.08 
1.38 
1.42 
1.42 

1.42 
1.46 
1.46 
1.60 
1.50 
1.50 


34.6 
34.2 
34.6 
34.9 
34.2 

16.6 
34.2 
35.3 
34.6 
33.1 

33.1 
34.9 
34.2 
34.9 
16.6 

33.1 
18.1 
4.6 
19.3 
18.1 

16.6 
15.4 
24.8 
26.1 
26.1 

26.1 
27.4 
27.4 
28.8 
28.8 
28.8 


1.60 
1.60 
1.50 
1.50 
1.50 

1.48 
1.50 
1.50 
1.46 
01.17 

"'i.'oo' 

1.08 
1.21 

1.27 
1.40 
1.38 
1.46 
1.46 

1.46 
1.46 
1.46 
1.60 
1.49 


28 8 


9, 










28.8 


3 










28.8 


4 










28.8 


,^ 










28.8 


6 










28,1 


7 










28.8 


8 










28.8 


9 










27.4 


10 











9.0 


11 













1? 













13 













14 













15 







1.60 

1.55 
1.29 
1.46 
1.64 
1.64 

1.42 

1.56 

1.56 

01.54 

01.64 

1.52 
1.54 
1.62 
1.65 
1.67 
1.65 


32.4 

30.6 
21.9 
27.4 
30.2 
30.2 

26.1 
31.0 
31.0 
15.1 
15.1 

29.5 
30.2 
33.1 
34.2 
34.9 
34.2 





16 






01.58 
1.58 
1.58 
1.68 
1.67 

1.65 
1.62 
1.58 
1.58 
1.58 

al.58 


■"i.'oo" 

1.29 
1.00 





17 









18 






13 2 


19 






16.4 


?0 






19 3 


21.. 
2? 


1.69 


35.6 


37.1 
34.9 
32.4 

36.4 
36.4 
35.6 
33.1 
34.2 
33.5 


21.2 
26 4 


23.. 
24.. 
25-. 

26 


1.73 
1.67 
1.60 

1.71 
1.71 
1.69 
1.62 
1.65 
1.63 


24.8 
27.4 
27.4 

27 4 


27 







27.4 


28 







27.4 


29 






28.8 


30 







28.6 


31 


















Mn. 




31.7 




24.9 





25.6 




28.7 




27.4 




18.7 



•Water turned out dunng day. Discharge taken as one-half of discharge corresponding to gage height. 



PISH RIVER DRAINs^GE BASIN. 



75 



Daily gage height, infeet^ and dischnrge, in second-feet, of P argon ditch below Helen Creek 

for 1908 and 1909. 

[Observer, John Baker.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge 


Gage Dis- 
. height, charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1908. 
1.... 
2.... 
3.... 
4.... 
5 


1.58 
1.42 
1.42 
1.58 
1,50 

1.29 
1.21 
1.17 
1.17 
1.17 

1.25 
1.25 
1.25 
1.00 
1.04 


31.7 
26.1 
26.1 
31.7 
28.8 

21.9 
19.3 
18.1 
18.1 
18.1 

20.6 
20.6 
20.6 
13.2 
14.3 


1.58 
1.58 
1.33 
1.17 


31.7 
31.7 
23.2 
18.1 


1.71 
1.71 
1.58 
1.67 
1.67 

1.67 
1.67 
1.67 
1.67 
1.67 

1.62 
1.62 
1.62 
1.62 
1.62 


36.4 
36.4 
31.7 
34.9 
34.9 

34.9 
34.9 
34.9 
34.9 
34.9 

33.1 
33.1 
33.1 
33.1 
33.1 


1908. 

16.... 

17.... 

18.... 

19.... 

20.... 

21.... 
22.... 
23.... 
24.... 
25.... 

26.... 
27.... 
28.... 
29.... 
30.... 
31.... 

Mean. 


0.92 
.92 

1.00 
.92 
.92 

.92 

.92 
.83 
.83 
.79 

.75 
.71 
.71 
.71 
1.42 
1.00 


11.1 
11.1 
13.2 
11.1 
11.1 

11.1 
11.1 
9.0 

9.0 

8.1 

7.3 

6.5 
6.5 
6.5 
26.1 
13.2 


1.67 
1.67 
1.67 
1.67 
1.71 

1.67 
1.67 
1.67 
1.69 
1.69 

1.67 
1.67 
1.67 
1.67 
1.67 
1.67 


34.9 
34.9 
34.9 
34.9 
36.4 

34.9 
34.9 
34.9 
35.6 
35.6 

34.9 
34.9 
34.9 
34.9 
34.9 
34.9 


1.62 
1.62 
1.62 
1.58 
1.54 

1.58 
1.58 


33.1 
33.1 
33.1 
31.7 
30.2 


6.... 
7.... 

g 


.92 
1.58 
1.62 
1.62 
1.62 

1.62 
1.71 
1.71 
1.71 
1.71 


11.1 

31.7 
33.1 
33.1 
33.1 

33.1 
36.4 
36.4 
36.4 
36.4 


31.7 
31.7 


9 






10 






11 






12 






13 






14 






15 






















16.2 




31.8 




33.6 














June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1909. 
1 






1.58 
1.60 
1.65 
1.65 
1.69 

1.73 

L69 
1.65 
1.62 

1.62 
1.55 
1.56 
1.56 
1.54 

1.52 
1.52 
1.56 
L56 
1.49 

1.48 
1.40 
1.36 
1.25 
1.21 

1.19 
1.22 
1.15 
1.12 
1.10 
1.08 


31.7 
32.4 
34.2 
34.2 
35.6 

37.1 
35.6 
35.6 
34.2 
33.1 

33.1 
30.6 
31.0 
31.0 
30.2 

29.6 
29.5 
31.0 
31.0 
28.5 

28.1 
25.4 
24.1 
20.6 
19.3 

18.7 
19.6 
17.5 
16.6 
16.0 
15.4 


1.06 
1.08 
1.10 
1.38 
1.38 

1.28 
1.20 
1.17 
1.48 
1.07 

1.53 
1.56 
1.60 
1.58 
1.56 

1.60 
1.58 
1.57 
1.55 
1.54 

L55 
1.52 
1.48 
1.46 
1.45 

1.42 
1.42 
1.44 
1.42 
1.44 
1.40 


14.9 
15.4 
16.0 
24.8 
24.8 

21.6 
19.0 
18.1 
28.1 
15.2 

29.9 
31.0 
32.4 
31.7 
31.0 

32.4 
31.7 
31.3 
30.6 
30.2 

30.6 
29.5 
28.1 
27.4 
27.1 

26.1 
26.1 
26.8 
26.1 
26.8 
25.4 


1.41 
1.37 
1.35 
1.35 
1.33 

1.31 
1.29 
1.29 
1.26 
1.25 

1.24 
1.22 
1.23 
1.33 
1.34 

1.33 
1.28 
1.25 
1.21 
1.17 

1.23 
1.21 
1.21 
1.20 
1.16 


25.7 


2 






24.4 


3 






23.8 


4 






23.8 


5 






23.2 


6 






22.5 


7 






21.9 


8 






21.9 


9 






20.9 


10 






20.6 


11 






20.3 


12 






19.6 


13 






20.0 


14 






23.2 


15 






23.5 


16 






23.2 


17 






21.6 


18 






20.6 


19 






19.3 


20 


1.58 

1.50 
1.54 
1.58 
1.58 
1.44 

1.58 
1.67 
1.62 
1.44 
1.56 


31.7 

28.8 
30.2 
31.7 
31.7 
26.8 

31.7 
34.9 
33.1 
26.8 
31.0 


18.1 


21 


20.0 


22 


19.3 


23 


19.3 


24 


19.0 


25 


17.8 


26 




27 






28 






29 






30 






31 
















1 


tfean 




30.8 




28-1 




26.1 




21. S 








I 

















Note.— The gage is located in the flume across Helen Creek above the Helen Creek lateral, and the readings 
are assumed to be an index of the discharge below the junction, but when a large portion of the water is 
coming from Helen Creek the discharge may be greater for the same gage height. Discharges from about 
July 14 to 29, 1908, are questionable, because they are not consistent with those for the stations below and 
above. They may be 5 or 6 second-feet low. 



76 SUKFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASUHEMENTS. 

The following lists give the results of miscellaneous measurements 
made of streams and ditches in the Pargon River drainage basin. 

Miscellaneous measurements in Pargon River drainage basin in 1909. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to- 


Locality. 


Ele- 
vation. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


Aug. 19 
Sept. 17 
Aug. 19 

19 


Pargon River 

'i)ilion Creek.'.'.!! 

McKelvie Creek . 

do 

do 

Cawlfield Creek.. 
Lanagan Creek 


Fish River 


Below Miocene intake. 

do 

Above Pargon ditch 

crossing. 
Above Pargon ditch 
intake. 

do 

do 


Feet. 
610 
610 
720 

710 

710 
710 
600 
650 
550 
700 

700 
700 
580 


Sec.-ft. 
a 26 
O14.0 
4.0 

8.9 

6.4 
4.5 
2.3 
9.0 
4.5 
6.1 

5.8 

5.6 

6 1.24 


''■\ 


do 

Pargon River (from west). 

do 


36 


Sept. 6 
18 


do 

do 

Pargon River (from east) . 
do . 




Aug. 19 
22 


Miocene ditch level.... 
Above Miocene level. . 
Below Miocene level. . 
In flume, at Pargon 

ditch intake. 
do 




Sept. 18 
Aug. 19 

Sept. 17 

19 

Aug. 22 


do 

Helen Creek 

do 

do 

do 


do 

Pargon River (from west). 

do 




do 

do 


do 

Miocene ditch crossing. 





a Not including Pargon ditch, the record below McKelvie Creek shows amotmt diverted past this station. 
*> Inflow below Pargon ditch intake. 

Miscellaneous measurements of Pargon ditch in 1909. 



Date. 


Ditch. 


Locality. 


Gape 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Sept. 5 
5 


Pargon ditch 


Above Dillon Creek 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
14.2 


do 


Below Dillon Creek. . . 




15.3 


Aug. 19 
July 17 
Sept. 6 
Aug. 19 
Sept. 5 
18 


do 


1 1 rnilP.s bftlow Hfilpn CrftP.lr 


1.56 
aL50 
OL33 


29.2 


.do 


2 miles below Helen Creek 


27.5 


do 


Outlet into Ophir Creek 


19.7 


McKelvie lateral 




7.4 


do 


do 




3.9 


do 


do 




3.0 


Aug. 19 

Sept. 17 

19 


Helen Creek lateral 


..do 


a 1.56 
a 1.27 
1.19 


6.1 


do 

do 


do 


5.8 


do 


5.6 









a These gage heights refer to the Pargon ditch gage located about 40 feet above the outlet of the Helen 
Creek lateral. 

NIUKLUK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



DESCRIPTION. 

Niukluk River, the large western tributary of Fish River, rises 
near Mount Bendeleben, at the west end of the Bendeleben Moun- 
tains, and flows in a general southeasterly direction to its junction 
with Fish River. It drains an area of 825 square miles, or nearly 
as much as that drained by the main river at the junction. Its 
upper drainage basin, like that of Fish River, presents a diversified 
topography, including as it does Mount Bendeleben, 3,760 feet in 
elevation, the highest peak in this portion of Seward Peninsula, and 



FISH BIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



77 



the highland surrounding it, as well as the flat lowland divide which 
stretches from Mukluk River to Kruzgamepa River on the west. 
Its principal tributaries are Kingsley and Shoestring creeks from 
the east in the mountains, Goldbottom, Ophir, and Melsing creeks 
lower down, and Libby River, American Creek, and Casadepaga 
River from the west. The basins of Casadepaga River, American 
Creek, and Ophir Creek will be described separately. 

AMERICAN CREEK. 

American Creek rises in the highlands north of the Casadepaga. 
In its upper course it has a moderate gradient and a rather wide 
gravel bed. After making a turn to the east it enters a steep canyon 
some 400 feet deep. Below this it enters the lowland previously 
noted and flows eastward into the Niukluk. Its principal tribu- 
taries are Auburn Ravine and Game Creek, both from the northeast 
above the canyon. Mining has been carried on in the basin of 
American Creek, notably on Auburn Ravine, but the production 
has not been great. 

Records were kept on American Creek at two points during a 
part of the season of 1908 to obtain data of the amount of water 
available for sluicing. The upper station was located just below 
the mouth of Auburn Ravine, where channel conditions were some- 
what shifting. Gage readings were obtained during part of July. 
The lower station was below Game Creek and above the canyon of 
American Creek. Gage readings were recorded for a few days in 
July and August. No measurements were obtained at the higher 
stages at either station. 

Gage height^ in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of American Creek below Auburn Ravine 

for 1908. 

[Drainage area, 13 square miles. Elevation, 600 feet.] 



Date. 



Measurements. 

July 9 

July 18 

Aug. 3 

Sept. 17 

Gage readings. 

July 10 

July 11 

July 12 

July 13 

July 14 



height. 



Feet. 
0.^ 



.40 
.48 
.43 
.40 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec-.ft. 
2.0 
1.2 
2.0 
7.2 



2.0 
3.8 
2.7 
2.0 
1.8 



Date. 



Gage readings- Continued 

July 15 

July 16 

July 17 

July 18 

July 19 , 

July 20 

July 21 

July 22 

July 23 

July 24 

July 30 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.40 
.37 
.39 
.38 
.39 
.41 
.38 
.37 
.35 
.35 
1.20 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
2.0 
1.4 
1.8 
1.6 
1.8 
2.2 

l.:6 

1.4 

1.0 

1.0 

24.0 



Note.— Mean disdiarges have been estimated as follows: July 9 to 31, 3.6 second- 
second-feet. 



t; Aug. 1 to 31, 4.1 



78 



SURFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWABD PENINSULA. 



Gage height, in feet, and cKscJiarge, in second-feet, of American Creek below Game Creek 

for 1908. 

[Drainage area, 24 square miles. Elevation, 480 feet] 



Date. 



Measurements. 

July 9 

July 18 

Aug. 25 

Gage readings. 

July 29 

July 30 

July 31 



Gage 
height. 


Dis- 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec-.ft. 


0.50 


5.7 


.45 


2.6 


.53 


6.9 


.40 


1.5 


.60 


11.5 


1.00 


44 



Date. 



Gage readings— Continued 

Aug. 1 

Aug. 2 , 

Aug. 3 

Aug. 4 

Aug. 5 

Aug. 6 

Aug. 7 

Aug. 8 




Note. — Mean discharges have been estimated as follows: July 9 to 31, 5.5 second-feet; Aug. 1 to 31, 9.3 
second-feet. 



MISCELLANEOUS MEASTTREMENTS. 



The following is a list of miscellaneous measurements made in the 
Niukluk River drainage basin. 

Miscellaneous measurements in Niukluk River drainage basin in 1909. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to- 


LocaUty. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


Dis- 
charge 

per 
square 
mile. 


Sept. 15 
Sept. 14 


Niukluk River.... 
Melsing Creek 


Fish River 

Niukluk River 


Above Ophir Creek. 
Mouth 


Feet. 
100 
80 


Sec.-ft. 
296 
9.6 


Sq.m. 

^644 

3« 


Sec.-ft. 

0.46 

.32 







CASADEPAGA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



DESCRIPTION. 

Casadepaga River, the largest western tributary of the Niukluk, 
rises south of Iron Creek and flows in a northeasterly direction, 
joining the main stream about 15 miles above Coxmcil. It drains 
an area of about 224 square miles composed largely of limestone 
and schist hills. 

Its principal tributaries are Willow, Curtis, Ruby, Penelope, Big 
Four, and No Man creeks from the southeast and Moonlight, Lower 
Wllow, Canyon, Goose, and Bonanza creeks from the northwest. 
Placer gold has been mined on the river and most of its tributaries. 

Moonlight Creek is notable for the large limestone springs which 
furnish its principal water supply and which rise about a mile above 
its mouth. The Moonlight Creek ditch, which has its iatake at the 
springs, is about 2 miles long and diverts water to bench claims on 
the left bank of the Casadepaga. It is 6 feet wide on the bottom 



FISH RIVER DRAINAGE BASIK. 



79 



and has a capacity of about 15 second-feet. Work has been done on 
this ditch at different times since 1902, but it is not complete and 
only a little water was carried through it in 1908. 

Canyon Creek is another important confluent and supplies two 
ditches. One has its intake just below All Gold Creek, 4 miles 
above the mouth, and extends about 3^ miles along the left bank, 
picking up the flow of Boulder Creek. The other takes its water 
from a large spring just above the mouth of Boulder Creek, also on 
the left bank. There are also small ditches about 2 miles long on 
Euby and Penelope creeks and a short ditch on Goose Creek. 

The only gaging station that has been maintained on Casadepaga 
River is located below Moonlight Creek. 

CASADEPAGA RIVER BELOW MOONLIGHT CREEK. 

This station, wMch was established July 3, 1908, was located just 
below the mouth of Moonlight Creek, about half a mile above Curtis 
Creek and 6 miles above Lower Willow Creek. The records show the 
nm-off of the upper part of the Casadepaga drainage basin and in 
connection with miscellaneous measurements indicate the water sup- 
ply available for the Moonlight Creek ditch and the proposed exten- 
sion to the upper Casadepaga. The low-water flow at this point 
comes largely from springs, the largest being those on Moonlight 
Creek. The stream is subject to quick and severe floods. The max- 
imum discharge recorded is 1,080 second-feet, July 30, 1908, but this 
is believed not to be by any means a maximum flow. The low-water 
discharge in 1908 is uncertain, as no measurements of less than 40 
second-feet were obtained, but the measurement of 1909 was made 
at a time of an equally severe drought, and the discharge obtained, 
20 second-feet, is believed to represent nearly a minimum. 

Discharge measurements oj Casadepaga River below Moonlight Creek in 1908 and 1909. 

[Elevation, 400 feet.] 



Date. 



July 3. 
July 12. 
Aug. 5. 
Aug. 26 



Gage 


Dis- 


height. 


charge. 


FeeL 


Sec.-ft. 


0.85 


68 


.75 


48 


1.40 


246 


.85 


68 



Date. 



Sept. 17. 



Aug. 29. 



1908. 



1909. 




Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
80 



20 



80 



SUEFACE WATEK SUPPLY OP SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Casadepaga River below Moon- 
light Creek for' 1908. 

[Drainage area, 47 square miles. Observer, K. Karlin.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


1 


i 

.1 


1 


1 


1 
1 


1 


1 




1 


-i-= 



i 

03 

1 





1 


1 




no 

70 

66 
100 
100 

66 
56 
56 
56 
49 

49 
49 
49 
42 
42 

36 
42 
36 
30 
36 


0.9 


76 
56 
56 
100 
246 

300 
76 
56 
56 
56 

76 
76 
127 
76 
76 

56 
53 
56 
56 
56 


'6.'75' 

".'95' 
.9 


60 
55 

52 
50 
50 

50 
50 
50 
49 
48 

45 
42 
40 
38 
42 

50 

88 
76 


21 


f 

.55 
.55 
.5 

.5 

.5 

.5 

.5 
2.8 
1.7 


36 
30 
25 
25 
20 

20 
20 
20 
20 
1,080 
420 


.7 
.85 


42 
42 
75 
70 
70 

66 
60 
55 
52 
50 
70 






2 




"i 

1 

1 


8 
8 

4' 

I 

8 
8 
8 

9 
9 

1 
9 
9 

I 

8 
8 

8 


22 






3 


0.85 
1.0 
1.0 

.85 
.8 
.8 
.8 
.75 

.75 

.75 

.75 

.7 

.7 

.65 

.7 

.65 

.6 

.65 


23 






4 


24 






6 


25 






6 


26 






7 


27 






8 


28 






9 


29 






10 


30 








31 






11 


Mean. 






12 




92.1 
1.96 

2.26 




78.7 
1.67 

1.93 




51.9 


13 


Mean per square 
mile 




14 ... . 


1 10 


15 


Run-oft' depth, in 
inches, on drain- 
age area 




16 


.74 


17 




18 




19 




20 

























Note.— Some water was diverted past the station in Moonlight Creek ditch. 
MISCELLANEOXrS MEASUREMENTS. 



The following is a list of miscellaneous measurements made in the 
Casadepaga River drainage basin: 

Miscellaneous measurements in Casadepaga River drainage basin in 1908 and 1909. 

















Dis- 


Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to— 


Locality. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


charge 

per 
square 
mile. 










Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Sq. TO. 


Sec.-ft. 


Aug. 29,1909 


Casadepaga 
River. 


Niukluk River. 


I mile abov 
Whisky Creek 

Above Moonligl 

Creek. 
do 


e 500 


9.0 


29 


0.31 


-July 3, 1908 
July 12,1908 


do 


do 


it 400 


57 


46 


1.24 


do 


do 


400 


38 


46 


.83 


Aug. 26,1908 


do 


do 


do 


400 


58 


46 


1.26 


Sept. 17,1908 
Aug. 29,1908 


do 


do 


do 


400 


72 


46 


1.57 


do 


do 


do 


400 


11.3 


46 


.25 


Do 


do 


do 


Below Moonlig] 


It 400 


20 


47 


.43 








Creek, inchidii 


ig 














ditch. 










July 3, 1908 


Moonlight Creek . 


Casadepaga 
River. 


Ditch intake... 


485 


8.0 


.81 


(«) 


July 12,1908 


do 


do 


do 


485 


7.6 


.81 


(«) 


Aug. 5, 1908 


do 


.....do 


do 




485 


17.0 


.81 


(«) 


Aug. 26,1908 


do 


do 


do 




485 


10.2 


.81 


(«) 


Sept. 17,1908 


do 


do 


do 




485 


6.5 


.81 


(«) 


Aug. 29,1909 


do 


do 


do 




485 


6.7 


.81 


(a) 


July 3, 1908 


do 


do 


MoJth 




400 


11.2 


1.0 


ffi 


July 12,1908 


do 


do 


do 




400 


10.1 


1.0 


Sept. 17,1908 


do 


do 


do 




400 


8.5 


1.0 


(«) 


Aag. 29,1909 


do 


do 


do 




400 


8.9 


1.0 


(a) 


The disch 


irge ol Moonlight ( 


3reek comes from 


arge limeston 


e sp 


rings whicl 


1 probab 


ly receiv 


e much 



of th«ir water from outside the sujrfgce drainage area of the creek. 



FISH EIVEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 81 

Miscellaneous measurements in Casadepaga River drainage basin in 1908 and 1909 — Con. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to— 


Locality. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


Dis- 
charge 

per 
square 

mile. 


Aug. 28,1909 
Aug. 4, 1908 

Aug. 26,1908 
Sept. 17, 1908 
Aug. 28,1909 
July 10,1908 

Aug. 28,1909 
July 11,1908 

Aug. 3, 1908 
Aug. 25, 1908 
Sept. 17, 1908 
Aug. 28, 1909 


Ruby Creek 




Mouth 


Feet. 
310 
400 

400 
400 
400 
510 

510 
355 

355 
355 

355 
355 
395 

355 


Sec.-ft. 

1.8 

a 6.0 

10.4 
17.0 
5.8 
6.0 

1.2 
15.4 

11.0 

22 

27 
9.4 
6.4 

.5 


Sq. TO. 
6.0 
15.4 

15.4 
15.4 
15.4 
4.6 

4.6 

22 

22 
22 
22 
22 


Sec.-ft. 
0.30 


Lower Willow 
Creek. 

do 

do 

do 


Casad epaga 
River, 
do 


Above Ridgeway 
Creek, 
do ... 


.39 
.68 


.do 


do 


1.10 


do 


do .... 


.38 


.. .do 


Above intake, C. 
C. G. M. Co.'s 
ditch intake. 

do 

Below Boulder 
Creek, including 
ditches. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

At intake of Mc- 
Kay ditch. 

Mouth 


1.30 


do 

do 

do 

do 


do 

do 


.26 
.70 


do 

do 


.50 
1.00 


do 

do 


do 

do 

Canyon Creek . . . 

do 


1.23 
.43 


Do 


Boulder Creek... 


5.0 


.11 









a Estimated. 

OFHIR CREEK DRAIITAGE BASIN. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Ophir Creek rises in the Bendeleben Mountains at the foot of Mount 
Chauik and flows southward to its junction with the Niukluk about 4 
miles above Council. It drains an area of about 71 square miles of 
varied topography, comprising Mount Chauik, 3,510 feet in elevation, 
and several high limestone hills, as well as a large flat area near the 
head of the stream, which is a continuation of the lowland that 
stretches eastward and forms the Fish River flats. Its principal 
tributaries are Oxide, Crooked, Guy, and Sweetcake creeks from the 
west and Dutch Creek from the east. 

The drainage basin of Ophir Creek is divided into an upper and a 
lower part, connected by a comparatively narrow canyon several hun- 
dred feet deep. The upper basin may possibly have formerly drained, 
through a channel now buried, across the low divide into P argon 
River. If so, the stream which was at that time the head of Ophir 
Creek proper is now only one of its small tributaries. Ophir Creek 
flows over a rather wide deep-gravel bed at all points below the canyon. 
In some places where it crosses limestone the bedrock is broken and 
porous and the water sinks into it ; at such points mining pits drain 
themselves when the creek is diverted away from its bed. This fea- 
ture is most noticeable between claims ''No. 6 above" and ''No. 15 
above." The water rises in the form of a spring on claim "No. 5 
above." The drainage basin of Ophir Creek itself bears no timber, 
but it is covered with a thick growth of willows, alders, and birch. 
63851°— wsp 314—13 6 



82 SUKFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

Some of the slopes of the Melsing Creek basin, just south of Ophir 
Creek, are well timbered and furnish much good lumber for mining 
and building. 

Ophir Creek, which lies well back from the coast and at a somewhat 
higher elevation than the coastal plain, has a slightly shorter season 
than Nome. The freeze-up usually occurs about the last of Sep- 
tember. 

The first discoveries of gold in Seward Peninsula were made on 
Ophir Creek in 1897, and since that time the stream has been a scene 
of constant mining activity. The total production of the creek to 
date has probably been some $6,000,000 or $8,000,000 in value. 

Several ditches have been built to convey water for mining. The 
largest is the Canyon ditch of the Wild Goose Mining & Trading Co., 
which has its intake near the head of the canyon and extends down 
the right bank of the creek for about 17 miles. Some details re- 
ferring to the ditch are given on page 257. The ^'22" ditch has its 
intake on claim No. 22, and extends along the left bank of the creek 
to the mouth of Dutch Creek and up Dutch Creek to claim No. 3. 
The '' 19 " ditch diverts the water to the right bank and extends as far 
as the discovery claim. A ditch on Dutch Creek has its intake about 
4 miles above the mouth and extends to bench claims on Ophir Creek 
just below the mouth of Dutch Creek, and similar ditches convey 
water for sluicing. 

A fair reservoir site at the head of the canyon might be used for 
storing water to supply the ditches, but it has never been developed. 
The survey of this site made for the Wild Goose Mining & Trading Co. 
shows that a 60-foot dam 200 or 300 feet in length would flood an 
area of 92 acres and would hold 110,000,000 cubic feet, or 2,530 acre- 
feet. 

The following stations have been maintained in this drainage basin: 

Canyon ditch near intake, 1906-1909. 

Canyon ditch above claim " No. 10 above," 1909. 

OPHIR CREEK AT CANYON DITCH INTAKE. 

Discharges for Ophir Creek above the canyon for the summer of 
1909 have been obtained by subtracting the water discharged over the 
divide by the Pargon ditch from the quantity diverted by the Canyon 
ditch. There was practically no flow over the dam after July 1, and 
the seepage through the bedrock dam is so small as to be negligible. 
A small amount of water was diverted by a ditch from Portland 
Gulch, a tributary of Oxide Creek, over the divide at the head of 
Crooked Creek. This ditch was carrying 1.38 second-feet on August 
23, but probably carried a much larger quantity during the early part 
of July. The minimum discharge of Ophir Creek recorded in 1909 
was 9 second-feet July 29 to August 2. The records on the Pargon 



FISH EIVER DEAINAGE BASIN. 



83 



ditch below Helen Creek for the low water of 1908 are uncertain, so 
that the natural discharge of Ophir Creek can not be computed. It 
may have been lower than in 1909. 

Daily discharge, in second-feet, of Ophir Creeh at Canyon ditch intake for 1909. 
[Drainage area, 24 square miles.l 



Day. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Day. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1 


27 
27 
25 
24 
23 

23 

25 
21 
24 
26 

23 

26 
23 
19 
19 

18 
17 
16 
15 
14 


9 
9 
11 
19 
13 

13 

12 
13 
25 
38 

21 
19 
24 
18 
20 

23 
21 
19 
19 
19 


15 
16 
15 
15 
16 

15 
15 
14 
14 
14 

14 
14 
14 
19 
16 

16 
19 
13 
15 
14 


21 


12 
15 
13 
12 
11 

10 
10 
11 
9 
9 
9 


18 
17 
18 
17 
16 

17 
16 
16 
16 
16 
16 


13 


2 


22 


19 


3 


23 


18 


4 


24 


19 


5 


25 


16 


6 


26 




7 


27 




g 


28 




9 


29 




10 


30 






31 




\\ 


Mean 




12 


17.2 

.717 

.83 


17.7 
.738 

.85 


15.5 


13 .... 


Mean per square mile 

Run off, depth in inches, 
on drainage area 


.646 


14 




15 . 


.60 


16 




17 




18 




19 ... . 




20 









Note.— These discharges were obtained by subtracting the discharge of the Pargon ditch below Helen 
Creek from that of the Canyon ditch at the intake and adding 3 second-feet, the approximate amount of 
water lost by seepage from the Pargon ditch below Helen Creek. 

CANYON DITCH NEAR INTAKE. 

Records of stage have been kept on the Canyon ditch about 1 mile 
below the intake by J. J. McKenzie, ditch walker, for four seasons. 
The records show the amount diverted from Ophir Creek, which 
tQcludes not only the natural flow but also the discharge of the 
Pargon ditch. The gage is located lq an earth section which is 
believed to be permanent, and the gage itself has probably remauied 
unchanged suice the records began. Measurements are made from 
a foot plank at the gage. Figure 9 (p. 59) shows the discharge, area, 
and mean-velocity curves derived from measurements at this station. 
The minimum weekly discharge recorded is 19.5 second-feet, July 
23 to 29, 1908. The lowest week of 1909, July 28 to August 3, gave 
an average of 22.3 second-feet. The capacity of the ditch is 
practically 65 second-feet. 

Discharge measurements of Canyon ditch near intake in 1908 and 1909. 



Date. 



Hydrographer. 



Width. 


Area of 


Mean 


Gage 


section. 


velocity. 


height. 


Feet. 


Sq.ft. 


Ft.per sec. 


Feet. 


10.1 


23.5 


2.40 


2.50 


14.0 


25.2 


1.75 


2.15 


11.6 


14.4 


1.44 


1.38 


14.5 


26.6 


1.78 


2.23 


14.4 


25.3 


1.73 


2.12 


13.4 


21.2 


1.63 


1.92 


13.6 


22.0 


1.65 


1.99 


13.6 


19.9 


1.63 


1.81 


12.6 


16.6 


. 1.53 


1.54 



Dis- 
charge. 



1908. 
Sept. 



July 17 
Aug. 2 



W. H. Lanagan. 



Sept. 



Lanagan and West. . . 
Lanagan and Shutts. 

F. F. Henshaw 

....do 



Lanagan and Ayer . 

F. F. Henshaw 

....do 

....do 



Sec.-ft. 
66.4 



44.0 
20.7 
47.3 
43.8 
34.5 
36.3 
32.4 
25.3 



o Measured by floats in flume. 



84 



SURFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily gage heighty in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Canyon ditch near intake for 

1906 to 1909. 









[Observer, J. J. 


McKenzie.] 












June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


October. 


Day. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1906. 
1 .. 






1.92 
1.92 
2.04 
2.27 
2.42 

2.44 
2.35 
2.56 
2.46 
2.67 

2.67 
2.67 
2.67 
2.67 
2.67 

2.67 
2.17 
2.54 
2.64 
2.54 

2.62 
2.42 
2.62 
2.58 
2.62 

2.67 

2.58 
2.58 
2.58 
2.56 
2.54 


36.0 
36.0 
40.0 
47.9 
53.4 

64.1 
60.8 
58.7 
54.9 
63.0 

63.0 
63.0 
63.0 
63.0 
63.0 

63.0 
44.4 
57.9 
57.9 
57.9 

61.0 
53.4 
61.0 
59.4 
61.0 

63.0 
59.4 
59.4 
59.4 

58.7 
57.9 


2.46 
2.33 
2.33 
2.33 
2.54 

2.62 
2.33 
2.46 
2.67 
2.39 

2.67 
2.60 
2.33 
2.67 
2.08 

2.00 
2.50 
2. .50 
2.60 
2.67 

2.67 
2.67 
2.67 
2.67 
2.42 

2.67 

2.67 
2.67 
«2.42 
2.67 
2.67 


54.9 
50.1 
50.1 
50.1 
57.9 

61.0 
'50.1 
54.9 
63.0 
51.9 

63.0 
56.4 
50.1 
63.0 
41.3 

38.6 
56.4 
56.4 
56.4 
63.0 

63.0 
63.0 
63.0 
63.0 
53.4 

63.0 
63.0 
63.0 
26.7 
63.0 
63.0 


2.67 
2.67 
2.67 
2.69 
2.69 

2.m 

2'. 67 
2.67 

2.67 
2.67 
2.67 
2.67 
2.67 

2.67 
2.67 
2.67 
2.67 
2.67 

2.67 
2.67 
2.67 
2.67 
2.67 

2.67 
2.67 
2.67 
2.67 
2.67 


63.0 
63.0 
63.0 
63.8 
63.8 

63.8 
63.8 
63.8 
63.0 
63.0 

63.0 
63.0 
63.0 
63.0 
63.0 

63.0 
63.0 
63.0 
63.0 
63.0 

63.0 
63.0 
63.0 
63.0 
63.0 

63.0 
63.0 
63.0 
63.0 
63.0 


2.33 

2.00 
2.00 
2.00 
2.00 

2.00 
2.00 
2.00 
2.00 


50 1 


2 






38.6 


3 






38.6 


4 






38.6 


5 






38.6 


6 






38.6 


7 






38.6 


8 






38.6 


9 






38.6 


10 








11 










12 










13 










14 










15 










16 










17 










18 










19 










20 










21 










22 










23 . . 










24 










25 










26 










27 










28 


1.83 
1.83 
1.83 


33.2 
33.2 
33.2 






29 






30 






31 





















Mean.. 




33.2 




56.3 




56.0 




63.1 





39.9 















1907 


1908 


Day. 


June. 


July. 


September. 


July. 


Augiist. 


September. 




Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 














2.08 
1.67 
1.83 
1.76 
1.75 

1.83 
1.83 
1.67 
1.67 
1.68 

1.67 
1.75 
1.58 
1.68 
1.46 
1.46 
1.46 
1.46 
1.33 
1.58 


41.3 
28.4 
33.2 
30.7 
30.7 

33.2 
33.2 

28.4 
28.4 
25.9 

28.4 
30.7 
25.9 
25.9 
22.8 

22.8 
22.8 
22.8 
19.9 
25.9 


2,17 
2.04 
2.04 
2.33 
2.25 

2.42 
2.50 
2.54 
2.58 
2.68 

2.68 
2.58 
2.58 
2.58 
2.58 

2.33 

2.58 
2.58 
2.68 
2.54 


44.4 
41.0 
40.0 
60.1 
47.2 

63.4 
66.4 
67.9 
69.4 
69.4 

69.4 
59.4 
69.4 
59.4 
69.4 

50.1 
69.4 
59.4 
59.4 
67.9 


2.67 
2.67 
2.67 
2.67 
2.62 

2.54 
2.60 
2.60 
2.42 
2.42 

2.42 
2.33 
2.33 
2.33 
2.58 
2.42 
2.37 
2.25 
2.29 
2.08 


63.0 


2 














63.0 


3 












■ 


63.0 


4 






2.00 
2.25 

2.50 
2.58 
2.58 
2.68 
2.62 


38.6 
47.2 

56.4 
59.4 
69.4 
59.4 
61.0 






63.0 


5 










61.0 


6 










57.9 


7 










66.4 


8 










56.4 


9 










53.4 


10 










53.4 


11. 











63.4 


12 














50.1 


13 














60.1 


14 














60.1 


15 














59.4 


16 














53.4 


17 














51.5 


18 














47.2 


19 














48.6 


20 


i.83 


33.2 










41.3 



a Water turned out in afternoon. 
gage height. 



Discharge for day taken as one-half of discharge corresponding to 



FISH KIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



85 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Canyon ditch near intake for 

1906 to 1909— Continued. 





1907 


1908 


Day. 


June. 


July. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 




Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


21 


2.21 
2.33 
2.33 
2.42 
2.42 

2.46 
2.33 
2.37 
2.50 
2.50 


45.8 
50.1 
50.1 
53.4 
53.4 

54.9 
50.1 
51.5 
56.4 
56.4 






2.58 
2.58 
2.58 
2.58 
2.58 

2.58 
2.58 
2.58 
2.58 


59.4 
59.4 
59.4 
59.4 
59.4 

59.4 
59.4 
59.4 
59.4 


1.50 
1.37 
1.37 
1.33 
1.33 

1.33 
1.33 
1.25 
1.25 
1.67 
2.17 


23.8 
20.7 
20.7 
19.9 
19.9 

19.9 
19.9 
18.1 
18.1 
28.4 
44.4 


2.50 
2.50 
2.50 
2.67 
2.67 

2.67 
2.67 
2.58 
2.50 
2.46 
2.50 


56.4 
56.4 
56.4 
63.0 
63.0 

63.0 
63.0 
£9.4 
56.4 
54.9 
56.4 


2.42 
2.08 


53.4 


22 






41.3 


23 








24 










25 










26 










27 










28 










29 










30 










31 
































Mean 




50.5 




64.5 




59.4 




26.3 




56.1 




54.1 











June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1909. 
1 






2.50 
2.50 


56.4 


1.38 
1.38 
1.50 
2.04 
1.88 

1.78 
1.67 
1.65 
2.32 
2.33 

2.27 
2.29 
2.42 
2.40 
2.28 

2.38 
2.31 
2.25 
2.23 
2.21 

2.19 

2.16 
2.12 
2.07 
2.04 

2.04 
2.02 
2.05 
2.02 
2.04 
1.98 


21.0 
21.0 
23.8 
40.0 
34.8 

31.6 

28.4 
27.8 
49.7 
50.1 

47.9 

48.6 
53.4 
52.6 

48.3 

51.9 
49.4 
47.2 
46.5 
46.8 

45.1 
44.0 
42.7 
41.0 
40.0 

40.0 
39.3 
40.3 
39.3 
40.0 
38.0 


1.98 
1.96 
1.92 
1.92 
1.92 

1.88 
1.85 
1.81 
1.79 
1.79 

1.77 
1.75 
1.75 
2.02 
1.92 

1.92 
1.97 
1.76 
1.77 
1.69 

1.73 
1.91 
1.86 
1.88 
1.76 

01.60 


38.0 


2 . 






37 3 


3 






2.50 .'56.4 


36.0 


4 






2.48 
2.48 

2.52 
2.52 
2.42 
2.48 
2.50 

2.42 
2.42 
2.36 
2.25 
2.21 

2.17 
2.14 
2.17 
2.14 
2.04 

1.96 
1.96 
1.85 
1.71 
1.62 

1.58 
1.62 
1.55 
1.45 
1.42 
1.41 


55.6 
55.6 

57.2 
57.2 
63.4 
65.6 
56.4 

53.4 
53.4 
51.2 
47.2 
45.8 

44.4 
43.4 
44.4 
43.4 
40.0 

37.3 
37.3 
33.8 
29.5 
27.0 

25.9 
27.0 
25.1 
22.6 
21.9 
21.6 


36 


5 


1.25 

1.25 
1.25 
1.25 
2.00 
2.08 

2.21 
2.21 
2.25 
2.17 
2.08 

2.08 
2.08 
2.08 
2.08 
2.08 

2.21 
2.29 
2.38 
2.38 
2.17 

2.17 
2.33 
2.50 
2.50 
2.50 


18.1 

18.1 
l«.l 
18.1 
38.6 
41.3 

45.8 
45.8 
47.2 
44.4 
41.3 

41.3 
41.3 
41.3 
41.3 
41.3 

45.8 
48.6 
51.9 
51.9 
44.4 

44.4 
50.1 
56.4 
56.4 
56.4 


36.0 


6 


34.8 


7 


33.8 


8 


32.5 


9 


31 9 


10 


31 9 


11 


31 3 


12 


30.7 


13 


30 7 


14 


39.3 


15 


36 


16 


36 


17 


37.6 


18 


30.7 


19 


31 3 


20 


28 9 


21 


30.1 


22 


35 7 


23 


34.1 


24 


34 8 


25 ... 


31 


26 


11 9 


27 




28 






29 






30 






31 
















Mean 




41.9 




43.1 




41.0 




33.0 















« Water turned out in afternoon 
gage height. 



Discharge for day taken as one-half of discharge corresponding to 



Note. — The gage and channel conditions are believed to be permanent. No record was kept between 
July 10 and Sept. 21, 1907, but the ditch was full practically all the time. The records do not cover the 
full period at the beginning of 1906 and 1908, water having been turned in early in June both years. 



86 SUKFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

CANYON DITCH ABOVE CLAIM "nO. 10 ABOVE." 

This station, which was estabhshed July 10, 1909, is located above 
the penstock taking water for use on claim ^^No. 10 above," which 
was the first diversion from the ditch in 1909. The records thus show 
the amount of water delivered to the mines. 

The gage, which was located in the middle of the ditch, was diffi- 
cult to read on account of waves, and the records are accordingly 
liable to some error. 

Discharge measurements of Canyon ditch above claim "No. 10 above'" in 1909. 



Date. 


Hydrographer. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


July 10 
14 




Feet. 
1.45 
1.28 
1.28 
.80 
1.44 
1.29 
1.26 


'"t. 


do 


33 3 


19 




33 2 


26 


Shutts and Anderson 


16 1 


Aug. 18 
24 


F. F. Henshaw 


42.8 


do 


36 2 


Sept. 15 


do 


34.5 







Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Canyon ditch above claim No. 10 

for 1909. 

[Observers, J. Anderson and C. Leslie.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September, 


Day. 


1 
1 




1 
1 


1 

s 


1 


1 

s 


i 
1 




i 


1 


! 


1 


1 






0.64 

.62 

.68 

1.20 

1.08 

1.10 

.99 

.98 

1.24 

1.46 

1.33 
1.44 
1.50 
1.57 
1.49 


11.4 
10.8 
12.5 
30.1 
25.8 

26.5 
22.5 
22.2 
31.6 
40.0 

35.0 
39.3 
41.6 
44.4 
41.2 


1.34 
1.31 
1.30 
1.30 
1.31 

1.24 
1.24 
1.20 
1.18 
1.18 

1.18 
1.14 
1.14 
1.34 
1.29 


35.4 
34.3 
33.9 
33.9 
34.3 

31.6 
31.6 
30.1 
29.4 
29.4 

29.4 
27.9 
27.9 
35.4 
33.5 


16 


1.20 
1.24 
1.21 
1.20 
1.14 

1.04 
.99 

1.00 
.90 
.84 

.80 
.80 
.78 
.70 
.68 
.65 


30.1 
31.6 
30.5 
30.1 
27.9 

24.3 
22.5 
22.9 
19.3 
17.4 

16.1 
16.1 
15.5 
13.0 
12.5 
11.6 


1.53 
1.51 
1.48 
1.48 
1.42 

1.43 
1.40 
1.38 
1.33 
1.33 

1.33 
1.34 
1.39 
1.40 
1.38 
1.36 


42.8 
42.0 
40.8 
40.8 
38.5 

38.9 
37.7 
36.9 
35.0 
35.0 

35.0 
35.4 
37.3 
37.7 
36.9 
36.2 


1.27 
1.30 

'i.'24' 
1.22 
1.26 
1.19 

1.00 


32.8 


2 






1 17..:: 


33.9 


3 






18 


27.5 


4 






! 19 


28.1 


5 






! 20 


25.7 


6 






21 


26.9 


7 






! 22 


31.6 


8 






23 


30.9 


9 






!24 

25 


32.4 


10 


1.45 

1.39 
1.40 
1.30 
1.24 
1.20 


39.6 

37.3 
37.7 
33.9 
31.6 
30.1 


29.7 


11 


26 


22.9 


12 


27 




13 


28 






14 


29 ... 






15 


30 








31 








Mean. 










25.1 




33.6 




30.8 



Note.— Discharges from Sept. 18 to 21 were interpolated. No record was kept before July 10. 



SOLOMON EIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 



87 



The following is a list of miscellaneous measurements of Ophir 
Creek and the ditches diverting water from it: 

Miscellaneous measurements in Ophir Creek drainage basin in 1909. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to— 


Locality. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


Dis- 
charge 

per 
square 
mile. 


Sept. 20 
20 


Ophir Creek.... 
do. 


Niukluk River 

do 


Above intake of 
"22" ditch. 

Above intake of 
"22" ditch includ- 
ing Ophir Creek 
water in Canyon 
ditch. 

Below intake of 
"19" ditch. 

At intake 


Feet. 
220 

220 

200 

220 

220 
220 
210 

210 
210 
160 

550 


Sec.-ft. 
7.1 

17 

a.5 
3.3 

3.3 
2.3 
5.7 

5.8 
4.3 

n.3 

1.38 


Sq.mi. 


Sec.-ft. 


38 


0.45 


20 


do 

"22" ditch 

do 

do 

"19" ditch 

do 

do 


do 

Diverts from Ophir 
Creek on claim 
"No. 22 above." 

do 

do 

Diverts from Ophir 
Creek on claim 
"No 19 above." 

do 

.. .do 




Aug. 18 
24 






do 






Sept. 20 
Aug. 18 

24 


do 

do 










do 






Sept. 20 
Aug. 25 

23 


.do 






Hot Air ditch.. 
Stitch ditch.... 


Diverts from Ophir 
Creek on claim 
"No. 10 above." 

Diverts from Port- 
land Gulch, tribu- 
tary of Oxide Creek. 


On claim "No. 4 
above." 

At outlet 



















a Estimated. 
Miscellaneous measurements of Canyon ditch in 1909. 



Date. 


Locality. 


Hydrographer. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Aug. 23 

July 10 

14 


Below Crooked Creek flume 


F. r. Henshaw 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
40.6 


Below claim "No. 10 above" 


Shutts and Anderson 


1.80 
1.50 
1.74 
1.64 
1.58 
1.83 
1.54 
2.03 
1.90 
1.84 
1.80 


29 7 


do 


A. B. Shutts 


21.5 


Aug. 18 


do 


F. F. Henshaw 


33 4 


24 


do 


do 


28.7 


Sept. 15 
July 14 


do 


.do . 


25 1 


Above claim "No. 6 above" 


Shutts and Anderson 


20.9 


Aug. 1 


do 


Shutts and B urton 


10 3 


^ 18 


do.. 

do 


F. F. Henshaw 


30.4 


Sept. 15 


do 


26.7 


16 


do 


do 


24 6 


July 10 


Below claim "No. 6 above" 


Shutts and Anderson 


25.5 


Sept. 15 
July 10 


do 

Below claim "No. 4 above" 


F. F. Henshaw 


14.0 


Shutts and Anderson 


.96 
.71 
.37 


6.80 


14 


do 


.do 


2 19 


Aug. 13 


do 


A. B. Shutts 


00 











SOLOMON RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 
DESCRIPTION. 

Solomon Kiver enters Bering Sea about 40 miles east of Nome. 
It flows in a southward course for about 20 miles and drains an area 
of 134 square miles. The greater part of its basin consists of an 
upland in which there are limestone hills reaching an elevation of 



88 SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OP SEWARD PENINSULA. 

some 1,600 feet. This upland merges into a coastal plain about 3 
miles wide, lying just back of the beach. The principal tributaries 
are Johns and Shovel creeks from the west and Coal Creek, East 
Fork, and Big Hurrah Creek from the east. There are many small 
tributaries, some of which are important as gold-producing streams. 
The basin contains much limestone, and springs emerging from lime- 
stone occur on Shovel Creek, East Fork, and other tributaries. The 
stream beds are mostly wide and shallow. Most of the shallow grav- 
els thaw during the summer and freeze in the winter, though there 
are some places where the ground a few feet below the surface re- 
mains unfrozen throughout the year. There are practically no trees 
within the basin, aside from willows and alders. 

Mining has been carried on to some extent on Solomon River and 
practically all its tributaries. Ditches convey water for hydraulick- 
ing on the upper river and on Coal Creek, East Fork, Big Hurrah 
Creek, and Shovel Creek. These have been used principally to run 
hydraulic elevators. The most important mining operations within 
the basin are carried on by the use of dredges. Solomon River is 
especially adapted to dredging on account of its thawed river bed, 
moderate depth of gravel, and favorable bedrock. Considerable 
power could be developed to run dredges operating on the river by 
building diverting ditches, but no such power has yet been utilized. 
One gaging station on Solomon River below East Fork was main- 
tained in this basin during portions of the seasons of 1908 and 1909. 
The data obtained are of value for showing the available water supply 
for power development and for use in making comparisons of run-ojff 
in contiguous drainage basins. 

SOLOMON RIVER BELOW EAST FORK. 

This station is located below the mouth of East Fork near the 
roadhouse and just above the bridge of the Council City & Solomon 
River Railroad, ai an elevation of 146 feet. Daily records of the 
amount of water carried by the East Fork ditch, which diverts water 
past the station, were not obtained, but enough measurements were 
made to permit an estimate of the flow to be added to the amount 
recorded at the Solomon River station to determine approximately 
the natural discharge of the river. The flow below East Fork is 
fairly well maintained, especially the portion supplied by East Fork, 
which has many limestone springs. In 1908 the gage was located in 
a broad, shallow portion of the stream which shifted somewhat, and 
results for that year are therefore not of the highest accuracy. In 
1909 the gage was located on a well-confined channel just above the 
roadhouse, and the records for that year are good. At low water 
practically all the flow contributed by the East Fork was carried 
past the station by the East Fork ditch. 



SOLOMON KIVEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 



89 



The minimum flow recorded at this station for one week was 32.4 
second-feet, for July 23 to 29, 1908, but the river got nearly as low 
in 1909. Probably very little water was diverted past the station in 
the ditch at this time. The highest discharges recorded at the sta- 
tion represent only a small percentage of the maximum discharge 
occurring during flood periods. 

Discharge measurements of Solomon River helow East Fork in 1908 and 1909. 
[Elevation, 146 feet.] 



Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Date. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


July 4 


1908. 


Feet. 

0.42 

.37 

.90 

.30 


Sec.-ft. 

63 

67 

303 

88 


Aug. 16. . 


1909. 


Feet. 
0.-38 
.21 
.16 


Sec.-ft. 
66 


July 12 


Aug. 26 


39 




Sept. 13 . - 




37 


Aug. 27 











Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Solomon River helow East Fork 

for 1908 and 1909. 



[Drainage area, 66 square miles. Observers 


, George Gage and J. P. Samuelson.] 






1908 


1909 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


August, 


September. 




Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Ga^e 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 






0.55 
.39 
.31 
.72 

1.53 

.85 
.51 
.38 


162 

115 

95 

224 

682 

280 
150 
112 






0.18 
.17 
.16 
.18 
.18 

.18 


37 


2 










36 


3 










35 


4 .... 


0.48 
.47 

.46 
.46 
.41 
.42 
.40 

.39 
.42 
.35 
.36 
.34 

.32 
.32 
.27 
.24 

.27 

.25 
.23 
.22 
.23 
.22 

.21 
.20 
.22 
.22 
1.23 
1.55 


81 
79 

77 
77 
65 
68 
63 

61 
68 

54 
55 
52 

48 
48 
40 
36 
40 

37 
34 
33 
34 
33 

31 
30 
33 
33 
375 
692 






37 


3 






37 


6 






37 


7 






37 


8. 








36 


9 








35 


10 












34 


11 












33 


12 












32 


13 










.14 
.30 
.15 

.16 
.32 
.25 

■"■.■33" 
.36 


32 


14 










53 


15 










34 


16 






0.38 
.32 
.29 
.28 
.25 

.25 
.23 
.22 
.21 
.20 

.20 
.20 
.20 
.20 
.18 
.18 


66 
56 
52 
50 
46 

46 
43 
42 
40 
39 

39 
39 
39 
39 
37 
37 


35 


17 






56 


18 






46 


19 






46 


20 






46 


21 






46 


22 






46 


23 






58 


24 






63 


25 








26 










27 










28 







... .. 




29 






30 










31 




















Mean 




84.9 

6.5 

91.4 

1.38 

1.44 




228 

10 

238 

3.61 

1.07 




44.4 

3.7 

48.1 
.729 

.43 




41.1 


Mean of East Fork ditch 




4 5 


Mean total 




45.6 


Mean per square mile 




691 


Run-off, depth in inches on drainage 
area.............. , 




62 









90 



SUKFACE WATEB SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 
MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 



The following is a list of miscellaneous measurements made in the 
Solomon River drainage basin: 

Miscellaneous measurements in Solomon River drainage basin from 1907 to 1909. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary 
to— 


Locality. 


Ele- 
va- 
tion. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


Dis- 
charge 

per 
square 
mile. 


Aug. 27,1909 
Oct. 1,1907 


Solomon River 
do 


Bering Sea.. 
do 


Above Coal Creek. 
Below Johns Creek 
... do 


Feet. 
250 
245 
245 
245 
245 
245 
245 
245 
146 
146 
146 
250 

146 
146 
146 
85 

307 

307 
307 
290 

290 
290 
290 
290 
290 
290 
290 
290 
280 

160 

160 


Feet. 

"h'.m 

.43 

1.15 

.52 

.55 

""o.'38 
a. 21 
a. 16 

,,'. 



.84 

.78 
.79 

"".'64' 
.53 


Sec.-ft. 
2.1 
51 
60 
37 
190 
61 
57 
22 
52 
26 
23 
16.3 

18.4 
16.2 
13.5 
19.3 

9.6 

6 8.4 
6 8.6 
11.9 

0.0 

7.5 

12.6 

12.7 

4.6 

2.9 

0.0 

612.5 

2.4 

18.6 

6.7 


Sq. mi. 
10 
40 
40 
40 
40 
40 
40 
40 
49 
49 
49 
27 

17.2 
17.2 
17.2 
17.4 


Sec.-ft. 
0.21 
1.28 


July 4,1908 
July 12,1908 
Aug. 6,1908 
Aug. 27,1908 
Sept. 18, 1908 
Aug. 27,1909 
Aug. 16,1909 
Aug. 26,1909 
Sept. 13,1909 
Aug. 27,1909 

Aug. 16,1909 
Aug. 27,1909 
Sept. 13,1909 
Aug. 6,1909 

Aug. 17,1909 

Aug. 27,1909 
Sept. 13, 1909 
July 4,1908 

July 12,1908 
Aug. 6,1908 
Aug. 27,1908 
Sept. 18,1908 
Aug. 17,1909 
Aug. 26,1909 
Sept. 14, 1909 
Sept. 24,1909 
Aug. 16,1909 

Sept. 18,1908 

Aug. 16,1909 


do 


do. . . . 


1.50 


do 


do 


do 


.92 


do 

do 

do 

. . .do 


do 

do 

do 

do 


do 

do 

do 

do .. 


4.75 
1.52 
1.42 

.55 


do 

do 


do 

do 


Above East Fork.. 
do 


1.06 
.53 


.do 


... do 


... do 


.47 


Coal Creek.... 

East Fork 

do 

do 

Big Hurrah 

Creek. 
East Fork 

ditch, 
do 


Solomon 
River. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

Diverts from 
East Fork, 
do 


At mouth 


.60 


do 


1.07 


do 

do 

do 

At intake 


.94 

.78 

1.11 


do 






do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

. . do 


do 


do 






do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

... .do 


Near mouth of 
East Fork. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

.... do 






























do 

do 


do 

do 


do 

do 










do 

Midnight Sun 
ditch. 

do 


do 

Diverts from 
Big Hurrah 
Creek. 

do 


Above penstock, 
near Big Hurrah 
Creek. 

Near mouth of Big 
Hurrah Creek, 

do, 



















a Gage below East Fork. 



6 Computed from gage reading. 



ELDORADO RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 

Eldorado River rises in a low pass near Salmon Lake and flows 
southward with moderate grade for about 40 miles into the lagoon 
back of Port Safety. It' drains an area of about 128 square miles, 
comprising elevations up to about 2,300 feet. Mining has been car- 
ried on to some extent on Venetia and Beaver creeks, tributary from 
the east. A ditch was begun in 1909, with which it was proposed to 
take water from the river just below the mouth of Venetia Creek and 
to carry it along the right bank and across Flambeau River to ground 
in the vicinity of Hastings Creek, but the project has never been 
carried out. The ditch would have delivered the water at a very 
low elevation, and it is doubtful if the supply would have been 



NOME RIVEE DRAINAGE BASIN. 91 

sufficient. The following measurements have been made of Eldorado 
River below Venetia Creek : 

August 14, 1906, discharge 44 second-feet. 

September 17, 1907, discharge 225 second-feet. 

FLAMBEAU RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 

Flambeau River is a small unimportant stream that rises about 
20 miles back from the coast and drains an area between the lower 
courses of Nome and Eldorado rivers. Ijittle mining has been done 
in its basin. The Flambeau-Hastings ditch has its intake at the 
mouth of Hazel Creek, near the head of the river, at an elevation 
slightly greater than 200 feet, and the plan for it contemplated its 
extension to Hastings Creek near Cape Nome. It was started in 
1906, but only about 12 miles of 8 to 10 foot ditch has been com- 
pleted. A small ditch extends from a point about 1 mile above 
La Spray Creek to Hazel Creek. 

NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 
DESCRIPTION. 

Nome River is formed by the junction of Buffalo and Deep Canyon 
creeks and flows southward about 40 miles, entering Bering Sea about 
3 miles east of Nome. It drains a long narrow basin comprising a 
total of about 160 square miles. The headwaters of the stream he 
in the Kigluaik Mountains, which rise to elevations a little higher 
than 3,000 feet. The hills bounding the basin on either side are long, 
nearly straight ridges, especially the one to the west, and are broken 
by several low divides, through which water has been or can be 
diverted from adjoining drainages into ditches along the slopes of 
Nome River. The Nugget and Buffalo divides lie to the east and 
west, respectively, of the head of this basin, and separate it from the 
Grand Central and Sinuk River basins. 

On Hobson Creek, a tributary of the Nome, there are limestone 
springs which yield a good supply of water at all times during the 
open season and continue to flow well into the winter. Most of this 
water is diverted during the summer for mining, but during the 
winter it finds its way down Nome River and freezes in the form of 
overflow below the mouth of Hobson Creek. The gravels of Nome 
River are deep and in part, at least, unfrozen. Gold has been found 
and considerable mining done on Dorothy, Dexter, Buster, and 
Osborne creeks, and to a less extent on Boer, Hobson, Banner, and 
other creeks. Four large ditches have been built to divert the water 
of Nome River for hydrauHc mining. Named in the order of their 
diversions, they are the Campion, Miocene, Seward, and Pioneer 
ditches. The Campion ditch extends from Buffalo Creek to Dorotny 
Creek, where its water has been used for running an elevator. The 



92 SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 

other three ditches, which extend to mining ground on the creeks 
near Nome, are described in detail on pages 107-108 126, 135, and 257. 

There are no storage facilities for maintaining the flow in these 
ditches, so that all depend on the natural discharge of the river. 
Some water power could be developed on the river, especially on 
lower Buffalo Creek, where there is a considerable amount of concen- 
trated fall, together with a well-maintained flow, but the demand has 
never justifled development. 

Eecords of discharge of Nome River and the ditches have been 
kept since 1906, and the basin has been covered more thoroughly 
than any other in Seward Peninsula. The following stations have 
been maintained in the Nome River drainage basin. 

Nome River above Miocene ditch intake, 1906-1908. 

Nome River below Miocene ditch intake, 1909. 

Nome River below Pioneer ditch intake, August 21 to 31, 1907, 1908-1910. 

David Creek at Miocene ditch intake, 1907 and 1909. 

Hobson Creek at Miocene ditch intake, 1907-1909. 

Hobson Creek below Manila Creek, 1907-1909. 

Campion ditch at Black Point, 1906-1909. 

Miocene ditch at Black Point, 1906-1910. 

Miocene ditch at Clara Creek, 1907 and 1909. 

Miocene ditch above Hobson Creek, 1907-1910. 

Miocene ditch below Hobson Creek, 1907-1910. 

Miocene ditch at the flume, 1906-1910. 

David Creek ditch opposite Black Point, August, 1906, 1907-1909. 

Seward ditch at intake, 1907-1910. 

Seward ditch below Hobson branch, 1909. 

Seward ditch at Dexter Creek, 1909-10. 

Seward ditch above Newton Gulch, 1909-10. 

Hobson branch above Seward ditch, 1909. 

Pioneer ditch at intake, August 21 to 31, 1907, 1908-1910. 

NOME RIVER ABOVE MIOCENE DITCH INTAKE. 

This station, which was established July 3, 1906, was located just 
below the junction of Buffalo and Deep Canyon creeks and above 
the intake of the Miocene ditch. It was maintained until the end of 
1908, when it was discontinued on account of the shifting character 
of the channel. Records at this point show the amount of water 
available for the Miocene ditch. The flow is affected by four ditches — 
the Campion ditch, which diverts water above the station, and the 
Jett Creek, Grand Central, and David Creek ditches, which bring in 
water above the station from streams ou-tside of the drainage basin. 

The river channel at the station is a broad, deep gravel bed, and 
there is probably considerable seepage through it which is not meas- 
ured. Gage heights were somewhat affected, especially in 1907 and 
1908, by changes in the diversion dam and artificial changes in the 
stream bed, so that records are not as good as is desirable. The 
mimimum discharge for a week was 4.6 second-feet, July 23 to 29, 1908. 



NOME RIVEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 



93 



measurements of Nome River above Miocene ditch intake from 1906 to 1909. 

[Elevation, 575 feet.] 



Date. 


Hydrographer. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1906. 
June 28 


Hoyt and Henshaw .... ... 


Feet 
0.15 
.00 
.45 
.40 
.82 
-.01 
.87 
.70 

1.25 
1.25 
1.09 
.96 
.78 
.60 
.44 
.36 
.25 
.75 
.68 
.54 
.96 

1.09 

1.10 

.16 

.85 
.58 


Sec.-ft. 

28 


July 3 


do 


21 


F. F. Henshaw 


56 


14 


Hoyt and Henshaw 


50 


14 


...do 


117 


Aug. 3 
23 


F. F. Henshaw 


21 




121 


23 


do . . . 


87 


1907. 
June 21 


Henshaw and Richards 


135 


22 


do 


141 


30 


do 


95 


July 10 
12 


F F Henshaw 


120 


R. Richards 


74 


17 


do . ... 


43 


Aug. 4 




37 


do . 


37 


7 




25 


17 


do 


82 


17 


do ... 


72 


Sept. 4 
g 


.do 


48 


do . . 


124 


1908. 
June 20 


Henshaw and Barrows 


84 


20 


do 


80 


July 9 

Aug. 13 

30 


Henshaw and Miller 


10 


A. T. Barrows 


62 


F F Miller 


46 









Daily gage height, infect, and discharge, in second-feet, of Nome River above Miocene ditch 

intake for 1906-1908. 

[Observer, F. F. Miller.] 



Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1906. 
1 




25 
23 
21 
37 
69 
42 
39 
244 
314 
119 

71 
74 
61 
76 
69 

60 
56 
48 
38 
30 

29 
28 
46 
42 
38 
32 
27 
26 
24 
23 
22 


0.02 
.00 

- .01 

- .02 

- .04 

- .04 
+ .09 
+ .04 

- .02 
.00 

.26 
.34 
.28 
.10 
.04 

.03 
.02 
.00 
.00 
.38 

.41 
.42 

.87 
.53 
.48 

.80 
1.14 
.78 
.72 
.70 
.62 


22 
21 
20 
20 
19.0 

19.0 

26 

23 

20 

21 

38 
45 
39 
26 
23 

22 
22 
21 
21 
48 

51 
62 
123 
65 
69 

108 
191 
104 

93 

89 

77 


0.61 
.57 
.62 
.46 
.42 

.40 
.36 
.30 
.27 
.21 

.18 
.18 
.18 
.15 
.12 

.10 
.10 
.32 
.70 
1.22 

1.12 
.83 
.82 

.74 
.66 

.60 
.64 
.52 
.62 
.60 


76 


2 




70 


3 


0.00 
.25 

.48 

.31 

.28 

1.31 

1.50 

.85 

.58 
.60 
.50 
.61 
.66 

.49 
.46 
.38 
.26 
.16 

.14 
.13 
.36 
.31 
.26 

.18 
.12 
.09 
.06 
.04 
.02 


64 


4 


67 


5 


52 


6 . . . 


50 


7 


46 


8 . . . 


41 


9 


39 


10 


34 


11 


32 


12 


32 


13 


32 


14 


30 


15 


27 


16 


26 


17 


26 


18 


43 


19 


89 


20 


214 


21 


186 


22 


115 


23 


112 


24 


97 


26 


82 


26 


74 


27 


66 


28 


64 


29 


64 


30 


61 


31 










Mean 




69.5 




49.3 




66 7 













94 



SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Nome River above Miocene ditch 
intake for 1906-1908— Contmued. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1907. 
1 






1.19 
1.06 
1.03 
0.94 
.94 

1.08 

1.04 

.90 

.84 
.88 

.92 
.78 
.80 
.75 
.65 

.65 
.64 
.64 
.72 

.80 

.94 
.70 
.71 
.69 
.66 

.64 
.56 
.50 
.48 
.52 
.56 


121 
102 
97 
92 
92 

118 
125 
98 
88 
105 

105 
74 
75 
66 
52 

50 
47 
47 
56 
66 

87 
55 
56 
54 
52 

51 
42 
39 
37 
41 
45 


0.51 
.49 
.48 
.45 
.33 

.33 

.27 
.28 
.27 
.22 

.22 
.22 
.20 
.24 
.20 

.51 

.74 
.70 
.64 
.60 

.52 
.60 
.46 
.46 
.42 

.62 
.67 
.60 
.62 
.78 
.62 


41 
39 
40 
38 
35 

32 
26 
27 
26 
25 

25 
26 
25 
27 
26 

50 
80 
74 
66 
61 

52 
48 
43 
43 
40 

60 
67 
58 
60 
82 
56 


0.57 
.50 
.50 
.53 
.48 

.46 
.41 
.44 
.92 
1.68 

1.29 
.90 
.79 

.77 
.78 

.66 
.60 

.58 
:58 
.50 

.51 
.32 
.42 
.43 
.38 

.35 
.32 
.31 
.32 
.36 


51 


2 






44 


3 






44 


4 






47 


5 






42 


6 






43 


7 . . 






40 


8 






42 


9 






116 


10 






362 


11 






222 


12 






119 


13 






98 


14 






95 


15 


2.14 

1.44 
1.29 
2.12 
1.60 
1.36 

1.26 
1.29 
1.28 
1.66 
1.66 

1.55 
1.38 
1.26 
1.31 
1.20 


460 

192 
148 
450 
240 
168 

140 
148 
145 
2C1 
228 

225 
174 
140 
153 
125 


97 


16 .... 


77 


17 


68 


18 


66 


19 


66 


20 


66 


21 


57 


22 


39 


23 


48 


24 


49 


25 


44 


26 


42 


27 


39 


28 


38 


29 . . 


39 


30 


42 


31 














Mean 




212 





72.1 




46.1 




74.4 













1908. 
1 






0.53 
.37 
.36 
.32 
.31 

.33 
.30 
.23 
.18 
.15 

.18 
.28 
.20 
.14 
.10 

.10 
.12 
.10 
.08 
.08 

.08 
.05 
.02 
.02 
.00 

.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
1.00 
1.07 


29 

19.6 

19.2 

17.3 

16.9 

17.8 
16.4 
13.2 
11.0 
9.7 

11.0 
15.5 
11.8 
9.3 
7.6 

7.6 
8.4 
7.6 
7.0 
7.0 

7.0 
6.0 
5.0 
5.0 
4.4 

4.4 
4.4 
4.4 
4.4 

75 

87 


0.70 

.55 

.48 

1.35 

1.09 

.92 
.62 

:S 

.40 

.65 
.95 
.82 
.78 
.64 

.62 
.60 
.56 
.80 

.85 

.80 
.71 

.82 
.88 
.78 

.71 
.68 
.62 
.60 
.58 
.78 


44 
32 
28 
146 
93 

68 
40 
33 
30 
27 

43 
73 
59 
55 
42 

40 
38 
35 
56 
62 

60 
61 
63 

63 

65 
51 
4S 

66 


0.70 
.70 
.68 
.64 
.60 

.56 
.55 
.63 
.49 
.44 

.40 
.38 
.39 
.35 
.42 

.40 
.40 
.40 
.38 


58 


2 . . 






56 


3 






53 


4 






50 


5 






46 


6 






41 


7 






40 


8 






39 


9 






36 


10 






31 


11 






28 


12 






26 


13 






27 


14 






23 


15 






28 


16.... 






26 


17 




. 


26 


18 







26 


19 






25 


20 


1.10 

1.02 

.98 

1.02 

.78 

.66 

.85 
.64 
.69 
.58 
.62 


86 

76 
70 
76 
48 
38 

56 
37 
40 
33 
35 


23 


21 




23 


22 




22 


23 






24 






25 






26 






27 






28 






29 






30. . . 






31 
















Mean 




59.2 




15.2 




53.6 




34.2 















NOME EIVEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 



95 



NOME RIVER BELOW MIOCENE DITCH INTAKE. 

This station was established June 15, 1909, to take the place of the 
station above the intake. The discharge at this point is affected by 
the same diversions as at the upper point, with the additional diver- 
sion of the Miocene ditch. The gage was not read during extreme 
low water, but the discharge was estimated from the amount in the 
river, which was assumed to decrease slightly as the water fell in the 
ditch. The discharge obtained, by adding to these records the 
amount of water passing Black Point in the Miocene ditch, is directly 
comparable to the data of discharge obtained at the station above 
the intake during the years 1906-1908. 

Discharge measurements of Nome River below Miocene ditch intake in 1909 and 1910. 

•[Elevation, 575 feet.] 



Date. 



1909, 

June 15 

July 16 

Aug. 3 

Aug. 9 



Gage 


Dis- 


height. 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec-feet. 


1.70 


238 


.20 


2.3 I 


.16 


2.2 


.59 


16.2 



Date. 



1909— Continued. 



Aug. 9. 



Sept. 18. 



1910. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.46 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-feet. 
9.7 



29 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Nome River below Miocene ditch 

intake for 1909. 

[Observer, F. F. Miller.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage ! Dis- 
height. 1 charge. 

i 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 






0.82 36 
.82 ! 36 

1.00 j 60 
.86 1 41 




2.0 
2.0 
2.0 
2.3 
2.2 

2.1 
2.1 
2.1 

8.1 
7.0 

2.5 
2.2 
2.4 
2.4 
2.3 

2.3 

2.2 
2.2 
2.2 
2.2 

2.2 
2.2 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 

2.1 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 




2.0 


2 










2.0 


3 






0.16 




1.9 


4 






0.15 


1.9 


5 






.85 

.82 
.71 
.72 

.67 
.56 

.32 
.34 
.24 
.20 
.20 

.20 
.20 
.20 
.20 
.20 

.20 
.20 


40 

36 
26 
27 
23 
14.8 

4.9 
5.5 
3.2 
2.5 
2.5 

2.5 
2.5 
2.5 
2.5 
2.5 

2.5 
2.5 
2.5 
2.4 
2.4 

2.3 
2.3 
2.2 
2.2 
2.1 
2.1 




2.0 


6 










2.0 


7 










2.0 


8 










1.9 


9 






.42 




1.9 


10 








1.9 


11 






.20 




1.9 


12 








1.9 


13 










1.9 


14 










1.9 


15 


1.70 

1.80 
1.25 
1.20 
1.17 
1.11 


238 

271 
111 

99 

93 

80 

73 
66 
60 
30 
5.8 

5.8 
13.6 

69 
177 
69 






1.9 


16 






1.9 


17 . 






1.9 


18 






1.9 


19 . . 






1.9 


20 








21 








22 










23 


1.00 
.75 
.35 

.35 

.54 

1.05 

1.50 

1.05 








24 










25 










26 










27 










28 










29 










30 










31 




























91.3 




12.8 




2.52 




1.9T 















96 



SUKFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



NATURAL DISCHARGE OF NOME RIVER AT MIOCENE DITCH INTAKE. 

The natural discharge of Nome River above the Miocene ditch 
intake is affected by four ditches — the Campion ditch, which diverts 
water above the station, and the Jett Creek, Grand Central, and 
David Creek ditches, which briag water into the river above the 
station from streams outside of the draiuage area. Therefore to 
determine the natural flow of the river or the quantity of water 
which would have been carried at this point had there been no diver- 
sion into or out of the draiaage area in consideration, it is necessary 
to add to the records of discharge above the intake the amount of 
water carried past the station by the Campion ditch and to subtract 
from this sum the total discharge of the other three ditches. For 1909 
the discharge of the river above the intake is determined by adding to 
the records obtained below the intake the discharge of the Miocene ditch 
at Black Point. The discharge computed in the manner outlined above 
is given in the following tables for the four years 1906 to 1909. 

The maximum recorded discharge of 349 second-feet for this period, 
which occurred September 10, 1907, was probably exceeded in 
September, 1910. The lowest discharge for one week was 6.4 second- 
feet, July 23-29, 1908. 

Natural daily discharge, in second-feet, of Nome River at Miocene ditch intake for 1906-1908. 

[Drainage area, 15 square miles.) 



Day. 


1906 


1907 


1908 




July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1 


20 
18 
16 
31 
51 

42 
47 
244 
314 
119 
65 
67 
55 
58 
52 

43 
39 
33 
30 

27 

29 
29 
46 
43 
40 
32 
26 
27 
24 
24 
23 


23 
22 
21 
21 
20 

20 
27- 
25 
23 
25 

50 
54 
49 
35 
30 

27 
26 
26 
24 
46 

48 
53 
121 
63 
55 

101 
191 
104 
93 
79 
65 


65 
56 
54 

48 
45 

43 
39 
34 
36 
35 

33 
34 
36 
33 
31 

29 
29 
40 
90 
230 

194 
114 
109 
92 
80 

76 
70 
66 
66 
62 


121 

102 
97 
92 
92 

118 
132 
103 
90 
109 

107 
70 
73 
61 
50 

38 
41 
46 
54 

70 
44 
42 
38 
37 

36 
28 
28 
25 
32 
35 


29 
29 

29 
29 
26 

23 

18.2 

21 

22 

19.5 

19.5 

21 

19.7 

22 

19.2 

36 
64 
59 
47 
40 

32 
31 
30 
29 
26 

49 
55 
44 
45 
71 
44 


40 
34 
33 
36 
32 

35 
31 
31 
104 
349 

218 
122 
89 
84 
96 
74 
67 
51 
53 
49 

45 
30 
27 
21 
39 

39 
36 
35 
34 
25 


86 
81 
89 
60 
49 

67 
44 
41 
26 
26 


20 

15.9 

17.5 

16.6 

17.0 

18.0 
16.6 
13.3 
11.6 
9.8 

12.7 
24 
16.3 
10.8 
8.5 

8.4 
9.9 
9.7 
8.6 
8.7 

9.0 
7.1 
6.1 
6.8 
6.3 

6.5 
6.5 
6.3 
6.1 

59 

88 


32 
24 
33 
146 
96 

53 
32 
26 
22 
22 

34 
62 
40 
46 
31 

28 
27 
25 
47 
65 

46 
39 
46 
49 

48 

40 
36 
34 
34 

30 

58 


37 


2 


39 


3 


35 


4 


33 


5 


31 


6 


30 


7 


28 


8 


27 


9 


26 


10 


22 


11 


19.0 


12 


18.0 


13. . . 


19 


14 


15.4 


15 


20 


16 •. 


19.4 


17 


19.4 


18 


18.7 


19 


18.0 


20 


17.3 


21 


16.5 


22 ... 


15 


23 




24 




25 




26 




27 




28 




29 




30 




31 












Mean 


55.3 
3.69 

4.25 


50.5 
3.37 

3.88 


65.6 
4.37 

4.88 


66.5 
4.43 

5.11 


33.8 
2.25 

2.59 


66.0 

4.40 

4.91 


59.5 

3.97 

1.62 


15.5 

1.03 

1.19 


43.6 

2.91 

3.36 


23 8 


Meanper squaremile. 
Run-off, depth in 

inches on drainage 

area. 


1.59 
1.30 







NOME KIVEB DEAINAGE BASIN. 



97 



Natural daily discharge, in second-feet, of Nome River at Miocene ditch intake for 1909. 

[Drainage area, 15 square miles.] 



Day. 


June. 


July. 


A„.. 


Sept. 


Day. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1 




52 
50 

74 
58 
57 

51 
41 
45 
43 
33 

24 
27 
29 
25 
22 

24 
22 
23 
22 
20 


7.4 
8.2 
13.0 
19.1 
12.6 

10.4 
10.1 

8.2 
39 
37 

16.3 
9.9 
24 
27 
23 

17.8 
14.8 
13.9 
14.5 
13.6 


10.9 
11.4 
11.1 
12.2 
13.3 

13.8 
12.8 
10.4 
10.3 
10.4 

9.9 
9.2 
9.4 
13.3 
11.9 

13.2 
12.8 
12.5 
11.7 
11.6 


21 


73 
66 
72 
45 
26 

27 
27 
89 
184 
86 


17.8 
16.0 
13.7 
11.0 
10.7 

10.5 
10.4 
11.4 
10.0 
8.8 
9.5 


14.1 
13.7 
13.1 
12.5 
11.7 

12.3 
13.1 
13.7 
13.1 
11.9 
12.1 


12.8 


2 




22 


12.8 


3 




23 


17.2 


4 




24 


30 


5 




25 


16.0 


6 




26 


13.2 


7 




27 


13.2 


g 




28 


12.4 


9 




29 


12.0 


10 




30 


12.0 






31 




11 


Mean 

Mean per square 
mile 






12 




99.2 
6.61 

3.93 


28.1 

1.87 

2.16 


15.5 
1.03 

1.19 


12.4 


13 

14 




.827 


15 


238 

271 
111 
99 
93 

80 


Run-oflE, depth in 
inches on 
drainage area.. 




16 


.92 


17 




18 




19 




20 









NOME RIVER BELOW PIONEER DITCH INTAKE. 

This station was established July 9, 1907, and records were obtained 
for 11 days in that year and during the entire seasons of 1908, 1909, 
and 1910. It is located below the Pioneer intake and below all 
diversions from the upper river, so that it shows the amount of 
unappropriated water in Nome River at this point. By adding to 
these records the discharge of the Miocene, Seward, and Pioneer 
ditches and deductiag the discharge of the two ditches over the 
Nugget divide, the natural flow at this point has been computed. 
Conditions were good and the record obtained is reliable. The 
highest flood recorded was caused by the rain of September 10, 1910, 
and gave a maximum discharge of 920 second-feet on the 11th. The 
highest discharge recorded in the spring was 578 second-feet June 25, 
1910, but the discharge may have been greater than this in other 
spring floods. The minimum natural flow was 19.0 second-feet for 
the week July 23 to 29, 1908. The actual discharge below the ditch 
reached a minimum of 1 second-foot in 1909; this amount represented 
the seepage through the dam. 
eSSSl**— wsp 314—13 7 



98 



SUKFACE WATEB SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Discharge measurements of Nome River below Pioneer ditch intake from 1907 to 1910. 

[Elevation, 320 feet.] 



Date. 


Hydrographer. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1907. 
July 9 

18 


F. F. Henshaw 


Feet. 
1.89 
1.58 
1.13 
1.39 
1.49 

0.41 

1.70 
.33 
.30 

.60 

.47 


Sec.-ft. 
132 


R. Richards 


58 


Aug. 9 
20 


do 


3 


do 


25 


29 


do 


46 


1908. 
July 10 

1909. 
June 15 


F. F. Henshaw 


1.4 


Henshaw and Parker 


277 


July 16 
Aug. 2 

1910. 
Sept. 18 
21 


F . F. Henshaw 


1.8 


.do 


2 


G. L. Parker 


77 


do ... 


58 









Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Nome River below Pioneer ditch 

intake for 1907-1910. 

[Observers, employees of Pioneer Mining Co., 1908; Chris. Johnson, 1909; C. Chanceberg, 1910.] 









1908 


Day. 




July. 


August. 


September. 




Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 








2.0 
2.0 
2.0 
2.0 
1.5 

1.5 
1.5 
1.5 
1.0 
1.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.5 
1.0 
1.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.5 

2.0 
2.0 
2.0 
2.0 
2.0 

2.0 
2.0 
2.0 
2.0 

52 
205 


0.66 

.42 

.45 

1.18 

1.90 

1.10 
.58 
.42 
.42 
.45 

.45 

1.05 

1.05 

.98 

.70 

.45 
.45 
.45 

.72 
.46 

.45 
.45 
.88 
1.18 
.98 

.88 
.60 
.45 
.45 
.45 
.80 


23.0 
2.0 
3.6 

125 

310 

106 
14 
2.0 
2.0 
3.6 

3.6 

94 
94 
79 

28 

2.0 
2.0 
2.0 
31 
2.6 

2.0 
2.0 

58 
125 

79 

58 

15.0 
2.0 
2.0 
2.0 

43 


0.70 
.58 
.48 
.45 
.45 

.45 
.45 
.45 
.45 
.45 

.45 
.45 
.45 
.45 
.45 

.45 
.45 
.45 
.45 
.45 

.45 


28 


2 









12 8 


3 








3 9 


4 









2 


5 








2 


6 








2 


7 








2 


8 








2 


9 








2 


10 








2 


11 






0.40 
.40 
.41 
.40 
.40 

.40 
.40 
.40 
.40 
.41 

.42 
.42 
.42 
.42 
.42 

.42 
.42 
.42 
.42 
.85 
1.50 


2.0 


12 . . 






2 


13 






2.0 


14 






2 


15 






2 


16 






2 


17 






2.0 


18 






2 


19 






2 


20 






2 


21 


1.40 
1.30 
1.30 
1.25 
1.25 

1.55 
1.60 
1.57 
1.52 
1.75 
1.55 


28 

16 

16 

11.0 

11.0 

52 
62 
56 
47 
94 
52 


2 


22 




23 






24 






25 






26 






27 






28 






29 




..--- 


30 






31 












Mean 




40.5 




9.74 




42.5 




3 84 















NOME KIVEE DRAINAGE BASIN. 



99 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Nome River below Pioneer ditch 
intake for 1907-1910— Continued. 





1909 


Day. 


June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 




height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 






1.30 

1.18 
1.20 
1.20 
1.10 

1.00 
0.90 

.78 
.68 
.65 

.45 
.50 
.38 
.35 
.30 

.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 

.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 

.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 


180 
150 
155 
155 
130 

106 
F3 

58 
40 
36 

11.0 
16.0 
5.6 
3.6 
1.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 


0.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 

.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 

.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 

.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 

.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 

.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 


1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 


0.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 

.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 

.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 

.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 
.30 

.30 
.30 
.30 
.58 
.30 

.30 
.30 
.30 


1.0 


2 






1 


3 






1.0 


4 . 






1.0 


5 






1 


6 






1 


7 






1.0 


8 






1.0 


9 






1.0 


10 


2.20 

2.18 
2.15 
1.98 
1.88 
1.80 

1.95 
1.82 
1.76 
1.82 
1.65 

1.48 
1.40 
1.15 
1.05 
0.88 

.80 
1.05 
1.12 
1.75 


430 

424 
415 
364 
334 
310 

355 
316 
298 
316 
268 

225 
205 
142 
118 
79 

62 
118 
135 
295 
238 


1.0 


11 


1.0 


12 


1.0 


13 


1.0 


14 


1 


15 


1.0 


16 


1.0 


17 


1.0 


18 


1.0 


19 


1.0 


20 


1.0 


21 


1.0 


22 


1.0 


23 


1.0 


24 


26 


25 


1.0 


26 


1.0 


27 . 


1.0 


28 


1.0 


29 




30 






31 























259 




37.0 




1.00 




1.89 

























1910 




Day. 


June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


October. 




height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


2.9 

3.35 

3.35 

2.9 

2.7 

2.7 

3.05 

2.5 

2.15 

1.75 

1.4 

1.25 

1.1 

1.0 

1.0 

1.1 

1.15 

1.1 

1.85 

2.4 


460 
570 
570 
530 
470 

470 
570 
420 
370 
280 

195 
168 
130 
106 
106 

130 
142 
130 
325 
490 


2.3 

2.4 
2.25 
2.0 
1.95 

1.85 

1.65 

1.65 

1.5 

1.35 

1.65 

1.7 

1.6 

1.65 

1.55 

1.5 

1.5 

1.55 

1.25 

2.15 


460 
490 
445 
370 
355 

325 

268 
268 
230 
192 

268 
280 
255 
268 
242 

230 
230 
242 
168 
415 


1.2 
1.45 
1.2 
1.0 
.9 

.95 

.9 

.8 

.7 

.7 

.8 
.85 
.95 
.9 
1.0 

.9 
1.7 
1.4 
1.05 
1.0 


155 
218 
155 
106 

83 

94 
83 
62 
43 
43 

62 
72 
94 
83 
106 

83 
280 
205 
118 
106 


1.0 
1.2 
].05 

.85 
.8 

2.55 

3.4 

2.25 

1.8 

1.6 

1.55 
1.4 
1.25 
1.1 
.95 

.85 

.7 

.6 

.5 

.6 


106 
155 
118 
72 

62 

542 
910 
534 
396 
336 

322 
279 
238 
199 
162 

138 
103 
81 
60 
60 


0.85 

.85 


138 


2 


138 


3 




4 






5 






6 






7. 






8 






9 






10 






11 






12 






13 






14 






15 






16 






17 






18 






19 






20 







100 



SUKFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWABD PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Nome River below Pioneer ditch 
intake far i907-i910— Continued. 





1910 


Day. 


Jane. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


October. 




Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dls- 

charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


21 


1.9 
1.7 
1.9 
2.0 
2.65 

2.55 

2.45 

2.45 

2.2 

2.25 


340 
280 
340 
370 
578 

542 
508 
508 
430 
445 


1.95 

1.55 

1.4 

1.15 

1.15 

1.3 
1.6 

1.7 
1.8 
1.45 
1.3 


355 

242 
205 
142 
142 

180 
230 
280 
310 
218 
180 


0.95 

.9 
1.1 
1.15 

.95 

.9 

.8 

.85 

.9 

.8 

.65 


94 
83 
130 
142 
94 

83 

62 

72 
83 
62 
36 


0.6 

1.2 

2.4 

1.95 

1.85 

1.55 
1.35 
1.2 
1.05 
.95 


81 
225 
580 
441 
411 

322 
266 
225 
186 
162 






22 






23 






24 






25 






26 






27 






28 






29 






30 






31 
















' 




Mean . 




366 




274 




103 




259 




138 









Note. — It has been assumed that the shift in the channel between the 1909 measurements and those in 
1910 occurred during the high water of September, 1910, and the 1909 rating has been used up to Sep- 
tember 6. The results are subject to considerable uncertainty. 

Natural daily discharge, in second-feet, of Nome River at Pioneer ditch intake, 1907 to 1910. 

[Drainage area, 37 square miles.] 



Day. 


Au- 
gust, 
1907. 


1908 


1909 


1910 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Jime. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1 




63 
45 
41 
38 
37 

35 
35 
33 
32 
27 

29 
36 
32 
26 
22 

22 

20 

20 

19.4 

21 

21 

20 

18.8 

19.1 

19.2 

19.1 
19.1 
18.9 
18.7 

121 

291 


92 
50 
54 
198 
406 

191 
100 
75 
63 
64 

86 
190 
185 
167 
118 

84 
81 
76 
126 
93 

47 

83 

144 

209 

165 

142 
100 
85 
84 
79 
140 


117 

101 

89 

82 

75 

73 

69 
68 
65 
62 

58 
58 
61 
53 
61 

63 

54 
48 
48 
46 

44 
46 


■■'436' 

424 
415 
364 
334 
310 

355 
316 
298 
316 
268 

236 
219 
162 
174 
138 

120 
178 
192 
338 
303 


241 
211 
222 
228 
196 

186 
169 
147 
130 
117 

96 
99 
81 
67 
58 

60 
58 
52 
54 
52 

46 
43 
40 
38 
36 

35 
34 
30 
29 
30 
32 


27 
28 
41 
42 
33 

35 
30 
37 
64 
74 

44 
41 
48 
52 

47 

44 
40 
38 
36 
37 

35 
34 
32 
32 
31 

33 
33 
31 
30 
31 
29 


30 

28 
27 
26 
29 

29 
26 
26 
27 
26 

26 

26 
28 
30 
28 

29 

27 
27 
26 
29 

32 
32 
43 
76 
40 

33 
33 
31 
30 
30 


460 
570 
570 
630 
470 

470 
570 
420 
370 
280 

195 
168 
130 
106 
106 

130 
142 
130 
325 
490 

340 
280 
340 
370 
578 

!^1 

508 
430 
445 


460 
490 
445 
370 
355 

325 
268 
268 
243 
219 

300 
315 

287 
301 
277 

281 
281 
294 
224 
471 

410 
307 
272 
211 
212 

235 
267 
315 
339 
249 
218 


196 
259 
197 
153 
146 

161 
158 
138 
118 
123 

139 

147 
171 
161 
186 

151 
351 
293 
204 
189 

178 
166 
212 
226 
177 

166 
146 
140 
136 
123 
119 


187 


2 




235 


3 




201 


4 




156 


5 




146 


6 




571 


7 




920 


8 




534 


9 




414 


10 




364 


11 




352 


12 




304 


g::::::::::::::: 




2a3 


14 




231 


15 




216 


16 




206 


17 




173 


18 




155 


19 




132 


20 




127 


21 


98 
86 
89 
81 
86 

129 
133 
126 
114 
168 
124 


140 


22 


268 


23 


610 


24 


469 


25 


439 


21.. '.'.'.'.'.7.'.'.'.'... 


371 
325 


28 


284 


29 


249 


30 


226 


31 
















Mean 

Mean per square 
milfi 


112 
3.03 

L24 


39.0 
1.05 

1.21 


122 
3.30 

3.80 


65.5 
1.77 

1.45 


280 

7.57 

5.91 


94.1 
2.54 

2.93 


38.4 
1.04 

1.20 


31.0 

.838 

.94 


366 
9.89 

11.03 


307 
8.30 

9.57 


175 
4 73 

6.45 


309 
8.35 


Run-oflf, depth 
in inches on 
drainage area.. 


9.32 



NOME KIVEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 
* 

DAVID CREEK AT MIOCENE DITCH INTAKE. 



101 



David Creek is the first large tributary of Nome River below the 
junction of Buffalo and Deep Canyon creeks. Its valley has a north- 
western exposure and holds a considerable amount of snow well into 
the summer. A branch of the Miocene ditch diverts all the water 
from the creek at low stages and carries it up the left bank of Nome 
River, discharging it into a small stream which enters the river 
above the main intake of the Miocene ditch. The discharge of the 
ditch was measured about 1^ miles below the intake. (See p. 121.) 
On July 29, 1906, the seepage in this distance was found to be 0.5 
second-foot. The discharge of David Creek during low-water periods 
has therefore been found by adding 0.5 second-foot to the measured 
discharge of the ditch. For certain other periods the discharge of 
David Creek has been estimated as a percentage of that of Nome 
River, varying from 35 to 45, according to the season. The discharges 
for 1907, a wet year, and for 1909, a dry year, have been obtained in 
this manner. 

Daily discharge, in second-feet, of David Creek at Miocene ditch intake for 1907 and 1909. 
[Drainage area, 4.3 square miles.] 



Day. 


1907 


1909 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1 


55 
40 
36 
53 
53 

76 
72 
49 
40 
45 

50 
31 

34 
28 
23 

23 
19 
21 
24 
30 

45 
22 
22 
20 
13.7 

13.7 
12.1 
11.4 
12.9 
12.9 
12.9 


12.9 
12.1 
13.7 
12.0 
11.7 

11.0 
10.7 
10.1 
10.1 
9.6 

9.6 
9.6 
9.6 
9.4 
9.4 

13.7 

25 

23 

15.4 

15.4 

16.3 
16.3 
12.4 
12.1 
12.4 

20 
22 
18 
18 
30 
20 


12.1 

11.4 
13.7 
13.7 
12.4 

12.1 
11.8 
10.7 
35 
107 

70 
39 
28 
26 
30 

22 

20 

15.4 

17.0 

14.5 

14.5 
12.6 
11.8 
11.1 
10.4 

10.3 
9.9 
9.4 
9.4 
8.8 


95" 

90 
44 
40 
37 
32 

30 
26 
29 
20 
19 

18 
17 
36 
74 
34 


21 
20 
30 
23 
22 

20 

19 

18 

16.7 

14.1 

15.4 
14.1 
9.3 
8.3 

7.2 

8.3 
7.2 
9.3 
6.3 
5.0 

5.0 
5.0 
5.0 
4.9 
4.9 

4.8 
4.7 
4.5 
4.5 
4.3 
4.0 


3.8 
3.5 
3.5 
4.7 
4.4 

4.1 
3.8 
3.6 
7.6 
6.7 

5.7 
6.7 
7.6 
7.1 
6.6 

6.1 
5.7 
5.5 
5.3 
5.0 

4.7 
4.5 
4.3 
4.3 
4.2 

4.2 
4.1 
4.1 
4.0 
3.9 
3.9 


3.8 


2 


3.7 


3 . 


3.7 


4 


3.6 


5 


3.5 


6 


3.4 


7 


3 3 


8 


3.2 


9 - - 


3 2 


10 


3.2 


11 


3.2 


12 


3. 1 


13 


3.0 


14 .. 


2.9 


15 


3.1 


16 


3.2 


17. 


3.1 


18 


3.0 


19 


2.9 


20 


3.2 


21 


3.8 


22 


3.8 


23 


5.2 


24 


9.0 


25 


4.8 


26 


4.0 


27 


4.0 


28 


3.7 


29 


3.6 


30 


3.6 


31 












Mean 


32.3 
7.51 
8.66 


14.6 
3.40 
3.92 


21.0 

4.88 
6.44 


40.1 
9.33 

5.55 


1L2 
2.60 
3.00 


4.94 
1.15 
1.33 


3.69 


Mean per square mile 


.858 


Run-off, depth in inclies on drainage area 


.96 



102 SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PEKINSULA. 

HOBSON CREEK AT MIOCENE DITCH INTAKE. 

Hobson Creek is one of the most interesting and valuable streams 
in the Nome region. It rises south of Dorothy Creek, flows south- 
ward, and discharges into Nome River about 18 miles from the sea- 
coast. It is about 4 miles long and very steep. Its only important 
tributary is Manila Creek, which becomes dry at low water. Hobson 
Creek is notable for the large limestone springs from which it receives 
its water. The highest of these springs emerges just above the dam 
at the Miocene ditch crossing. Above them a trench has been dug 
across the stream to solid rock at a low stage, and no flow was inter- 
cepted. Between the dam and the mouth of Manila Creek there are 
many springs, none of them very large, but giving an aggregate dis- 
charge nearly equal to that above the Miocene intake. 

At low water the Miocene ditch obtains nearly half its water supply 
from Hobson Creek. Laterals have also been built to the other 
ditches, that to the Seward lying oa the east bank and the Pioneer 
branch on the west bank. 

The water from Hobson Creek is valuable not only on account of its 
remarkably uniform flow but also on account of its high temperature, 
which prevents the formation of slush ice during cold nights and 
makes it possible to run the ditches somewhat longer than they could 
be run with Nome River water alone. 

The discharge of the springs which rise just above the Miocene 
intake into the bed of Hobson Creek was found during the seasons 
of 1907 and 1908 by taking the difference of the discharge of the ditch 
above and below the dam across Hobson Creek and adding to it the 
observer's estimate of the overflow, which at no time amounted to a 
very large proportion of the total. During 1908 practically no 
water was wasted. On May 11, 1909, a gage was established below 
the dam. The records obtained from this gage and the difference in 
the discharge of the ditch above and below the dam furnish the basis 
for determining the flow of the creek in 1909. Records were kept of 
the ditch in 1910, but as a large amount of water was spilled, of which 
no record was kept, the discharge of the creek can not be computed. 
The maximum discharge recorded at this point was caused by the 
melting of the snow and amounted to 60 second-feet on June 11, 1909. 
The maximum discharge from the springs alone was about 25 second- 
feet in the spring of 1907. The minimum for one week was 6.1 
second-feet for July 25 to 31, 1909. 



NOME RIVEE DRAINAGE BASIN. 



103 



Discharge measurements of Hobson Creek at Miocene ditch intake in 1909 and 1910. 

[Elevation, 500 feet.J 



Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Date. 


height 


Dis- 
charge. 


May 11 


1909. 


Feet. 
0.00 
.72 
.75 
.30 
.85 


Sec.-ft. 
a 0.12 
23 
23 
3.7 
37 


July 15.. 


1909. 


Feet. 
0.07 


"'t^ 


June 14. 


Sept. 18.. 


1910. 




June 14 




June 14 b 


8.7 


June 14 


- 











o Estimated by J. W. Warwick. 



b Water shut off at dam. 



Daily discharge, in second-feet, of Hobson Creek at Miocene ditch intake for 1907 and 1908. 

[Drainage area, 2.6 square miles.] 



Day. 


1907 


1908 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1 




25.5 
24.9 
23.8 
22.7 
22.7 

21.1 
19.6 
25.8 
24.5 
22.7 

23.0 
24.0 
23.0 
23.0 
19.7 

23.1 
21.4 
23.2 
22.3 
22.6 

23.0 
21.1 
22.3 
23.5 
22.7 

24.2 
21.8 
21.4 
20.2 
20.9 
21.2 


20.4 
18.7 
19.1 
19.3 
19.2 

18.9 
19.4 
17.3 
18.1 
18.2 

16.2 
16.7 
16.4 
16.4 
16.3 

16.9 
14.7 
14.7 
14.3 
14.3 

15.4 
14.7 
14.3 
16.8 
18.3 

17.3 
17.3 
17.3 
17.7 
. 17.7 
17.7 


17.7 
17.3 
17.3 
17.7 
17.3 

16.9 
16.5 
17.9 
16.6 
18.2 

20.0 
20.5 
21.0 
21.9 
20.3 

20.6 
20.6 
20.7 
20.3 
19.6 

19.7 
18.3 
22.3 
20.6 
19.5 

19.3 

17.7 
19.0 
19.3 
19.7 


"id.s" 

12.0 

10.0 
10.0 
10.0 
10.0 
12.0 

12.3 
12.6 
13.3 
14.1 
15.7 


14.3 
11.1 
10.6 
8.5 
8.2 

8.1 

7.8 
8.7 
7.6 
7.9 

7.5 
6.2 
6.9 
7.3 
7.2 

7.1 
7.6 
7.6 
7.7 
6.6 

6.9 
6.6 
6.4 
6.6 
6.6 

6.2 
6.0 
5.7 
5.7 
6.2 
6.3 


6.7 
6.6 
6.4 
6.7 
8.8 

9.1 

10.2 
8.5 
7.9 
8.0 

8.7 
9.6 
10.3 
11.7 
11.4 

12.3 
11.9 
12.2 
12.5 
17.8 

12.0 
12.4 
13.1 
13.1 
14.1 

14.1 
14.1 
14.1 
13.8 
14.4 
13.1 


12.8 


2 ... 




12 5 


3 




12.5 


4 




12 5 


5 




12.7 


6 




12 7 


7 




13.0 


8 




12 1 


9 




11.8 


10 




11 


11 




11 1 


12 




10.6 


13 




10 2 


14 




9.8 


15 




9 9 


16 




9 5 


17 




8 1 


18 




7.4 


19 




7 1 


20 




7.3 


21 ... 




6 2 


22 




6 8 


23 . . 




6 5 


24 






25 






26 ;■, 






27 






28 


26.7 
25.8 
25.0 




29 




30 




31 














Mean 


25.8 
9.92 

1.11 


22.6 
8.69 

10.02 


17.1 
6.58 

7.59 


19.1 
7.35 

8.20 


12.2 
4.69 

2.09 


7.5 

2.88 

3.32 


11.0 
4.23 

4.88 


10 2 


Mean per square mile 


3.92 


Run-off, depth in inches on drainage 
area. 


3 35 







104 



SUEFACE WATEE SUPl^LY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Hobson Creeh at Miocene ditch 

intake for 1909. 

[Drainage area, 2.6 square miles. Observers, Oscar Munson and C. D. McDermitt.] 





May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 






0.89 
.85 
.88 
.82 
.92 

.91 
.81 

.72 
.80 
.85 

1.02 
.85 

.88 
.84 
.78 

.88 
.76 
.59 
.61 
.30 

"""."36' 
.59 
.42 


40 
36 
39 
31 
44 

42 
30 
22 
29 
35 

60 
35 
39 
34 
27 

39 
25 
23 
25 
21 

18.8 
17.4 
14.9 
14.6 
14.6 

15.1 

15.4 

18.8 

27 

24 


0.42 
.40 
.38 


21 

20 

22 

18.1 

17.1 

17.4 
17.0 
16.4 
16.4 
16.1 

16.1 
16.1 
16.1 
15.5 
15.9 

15.0 
15.1 
12.0 
13.4 
12.4 

15.7 
13.6 
11.5 
12.4 
13.7 

10.7 
11.3 
10.6 
11.0 
10.2 
9.9 


9.5 
9.0 
8.3 
6.2 
5.7 

8.0 
8.2 
8.2 
8.0 
8.3 

9.2 
6.2 
6.2 
7.2 
6.3 

6.2 
7.1 
8.4 
8.4 
7.5 

6.9 
7.1 
7.6 
7.4 
7.6 

7.6 
7.7 
7.6 
8.0 
8.1 
7.0 


7,6 


2 . 






6 9 


3 






6.8 


4 






6.4 


5 ... 






6 6 


6 






6.2 


7 







6.4 


8 






6.4 


9 






6 5 


10 






6.1 


11 


0.00 
.00 
.00 
.00 
.02 

.04 

.04 
.08 
.16 
.38 

.42 
.36 
.41 
.41 
.39 

.35 
.34 

.38 
.40 
.50 
.86 


0.12 
.12 
.12 
.12 
.19 

.26 

.26 

.54 

1.3 

5.8 

7.1 
5.3 
6.7 
6.7 
6.1 

5.0 
4.7 
5.8 
6.4 
9.7 
36 


6.4 


12 


6.4 


13 . . -. 


6 3 


14 


7.2 


15 


6.3 


16 


6.4 


17 . .. 


7.1 


18 


6,1 


19 . 


6.0 


20 


6.8 


21 


6.8 


22 


5.9 


ii 


5.9 


24 


6,4 


25 


5,e 


26 


6.4 


27 


6.4 


28 


6.4 


29 


6.0 


30 


6.0 


31 














Mean 




5.16 
1.98 

1.55 





28.5 
11.0 

12,27 




14.8 
5.69 

6.66 


7.57 
2.91 

3.36 


6.43 


Mean per square mile 




2.47 


Run-off, depth in inches on drainage 
area 




2.76 









HOBSON CREEK BELOW MANILA CREEK. 

Measurements were begun in 1907 to determine the total discharge 
of Hobson Creek below Manila Creek, its principial tributary. Simul- 
taneous measurements were made of the creek and all its diversions 
below the Miocene ditch level, including the laterals to the Seward 
and Pioneer ditches, and Deschamps ditch, which diverts just below 
Manila Creek. In the following table these several factors and their 
total are tabulated, together with the run-off per square mile and 
the ratio of the discharge at this point to that at the Miocene intake. 
This ratio varies from 1.66 to 2.85. The natural discharge of Hobson 
Creek below Manila Creek may be approximated for any day desired 
during the period covered by discharge records of the creek at the 
Miocene ditch intake. To do this the ratio indicated ia the table 



KOME KIVER DRAINAGE BAStN. 



105 



for the date nearest to that of the day desired should be applied to 
the discharge of Hobson Creek at Miocene ditch intake for the day 
desired. 

Discharge measurements of Hohson Creek below Manila Creehfrom 1907 to 1909. 
[Drainage area, 6.1 square miles. Elevation, 270 feet.] 



Hobson 
Creek 
below 

Manila 
Creek. 



Date. 





Point of measurement 




















Dis- 
charge 














Miocene 
intake. 


Seward 
lateral. 


Pioneer 

lateral. 


Des- 

champs 
ditch. 


Below 

Manila 
Creek. 


Total. 


per 
square 
mile. 


Sec.-ft. 


Sec.-ft. 


Sec.-ft. 


Sec.-ft. 


Sec.-ft. 


Sec.-ft. 


Sec.-ft. 


24.9 


0.0 


0.0 


0.0 


25.0 


49.9 


9.79 


24.5 


5.2 


.0 


.0 


21.0 


50.7 


9.94 


22.3 


6.2 


.0 


.0 


17.7 


45.2 


8.86 


18.1 


4.3 


.0 


.0 


10.7 


33.1 


6.49 


19.0 


4.6 


6.8 


.0 


6.0 


34.3 


6.73 


a 13.8 


7.1 


6.1 


1.8 


8.4 


27.1 


6.31 


7.9 


3.1 


2.6 


.0 


6.0 


18.6 


3.65 


9.6 


6.1 


6.0 


3.4 


3.3 


27.4 


6.37 


12.8 


5.3 


4.8 


2.0 


6.2 


30.1 


6.90 


6 21.0 


.0 


.0 


.0 


34.8 


34.8 


6.82 


15.9 


6.5 


4.3 


.2 


7.5 


33.4 


6.55 


9.5 


3.2 


2.3 


3.3 


2.9 


21.2 


4.16 


8.3 


3.8 


1.7 


.0 


4.2 


18.0 


3.53 


6.4 


2.5 


.85 


.0 


4.9 


14.6 


2.86 



Miocene 
intake. 



July 2. 



1907. 



19.. 
Aug. 9. . 
Sept. 28. 



June 19. 
July 10.. 
Aug. 12. 
Sept. 1.. 



1908. 



June 14. 
July 15.. 
Aug. 1. 
10. 
Sept. 12. 



Ratio. 
2.00 
2.07 
2.03 
1.83 
1.81 



1.90 
2.35 
2.85 
2.35 



1.66 
2.10 
2.23 
2.17 
2.28 



o 3,7 second-feet diverted in ditch. 

h Discharge at 10 a. m., when measurement was made below; no water diverted. 



CAMPION DITCH AT BLACK POINT. 



The Campion ditch diverts water from Buffalo Creek about half a 
mile above its mouth, at an elevation of 610 feet. It extends along 
the right bank of Nome River for about 4 miles to Dorothy Creek, 
where the water is used for mining or is discharged into the creek. 
The station was established July 7, 1906, to determine the discharge 
of the ditch and the amount of water diverted for it at the gaging 
station on Nome River. It is located just above the Miocene ditch 
cabin at Black Point, about IJ miles below the intake. The records 
of the amount of water diverted in 19(^ to 1909 are practically 
complete. The maximum discharge shown by the records occurred 
August 11, 1906, and was 27.5 second-feet. This is about 7 second- 
feet more than the ditch can carry safely, and the greatest amount 
diverted is ordinarily about 20 second-feet. The minimum weekly 
discharge recorded at a time when the ditch was carrying all the 
water of Buffalo Creek was 3.4 second-feet for July 23 to 29, 1908. 



106 SUKPACE WATEB SUPPLY OP SEWAED PENINSULA. 

Discharge measurements of Campion ditch at Black Point, 1906 to 1909. 



Date. 


Hydrographer. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


19G6. 
July 7 
20 


F. F. Henshaw 


leet 

0.80 

.60 

.70 

.67 

1.36 

.76 

1.10 

1.00 

.88 

.35 

.79 

1.04 

.52 
.35 
.71 

.10 
.23 
.39 
.20 


Sec.-ft. 
11.9 


do 


8.86 


21 


.. .do 


10 2 


Aug. 2 


do 


9.70 


Henshaw and Miller . . 


27 5 


18 


do 


12.0 


23 


do 


19.6 


31 


F. F. Henshaw . . ... 


16 8 


1907. 
July 10 
12 


F. F. Henshaw ... . . 


9 93 




2.70 


17 


do 


8 20 


Aug. 4 

1908. 
June 20 


Richards and Miller , 


13.9 




7.64 


July 9 
Aug. 29 

1909. 
July 29 
Aug. 2 
9 




5.03 


F. F.Miller 


11.3 


F. F. Miller . . . 


2 19 


F. F. Henshaw 


3.71 


do 


6 86 


9 


do 


3.71 









Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Campion ditch at Black Point 

for 1906-1909. 
[Observer, F. F. Miller.] 





1906 


1907 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


t 
1 


S 


t 
1 

1 


5 


t 
1 


<D 
C3 


i 
1 


1 

03 

5 


1 


5 


i 


1 

5 


1 










7.0 

14.1 



















7.0 

13.0 

14.0 
15.0 
15.0 
15.0 
15.0 

11.9 
11.3 
12.7 
11.9 
11.5 
10.7 


0.69 
.68 
.65 
.62 
.56 

.61 
.69 
.70 
.73 

.77 

1.13 
1.05 
1.09 
1.02 
.92 

.80 
.80 
.78 
.75 
.80 

.76 

1.01 

1.16 

.99 

.93 

1.15 
1.16 
1.14 
1.09 
1.00 
.99 


10.1 
10.0 
9.5 
9.0 
8.2 

8.9 
10.1 
10.3 
10.9 
11.7 

20.4 
18.2 
W.2 
17.5 
15.0 

12.3 
12.3 
11.9 
11.3 
12.3 

11.5 
17.2 
21.3 
16.8 
15.2 

21.0 
21.3 
20.7 
19.2 
17.0 
16.8 


0.98 
.90 
1.02 
1.04 
1.00 

1.02 

.96 

.96 

1.00 

1.08 

1.07 
1.02 
1.06 
1.02 
.98 

.93 
.92 
.90 
1.10 
.98 

.50 
.60 
.75 
.72 
.91 

.96 
1.02 
.98 
.95 
.94 


16.5 
14.5 
17.5 
18.0 
17.0 

17.5 
16.0 
16.0 
17.0 
19.0 

18.8 
17.5 
18.5 
17.5 
16.5 

15.2 
15.0 
14.5 
19.5 
16.5 

7.5 
8.7 
11.3 
10.7 
14.8 

16.0 
17.5 
16.5 
15.8 
15.5 






1.00 

1.00 

1.00 

.99 

.95 

.90 
.92 
.96 
.98 
.90 

.90 

.94 

.94 

.98 

.89 

1.08 

.99 

1.09 

1.01 

.98 

1.03 
1.04 
1.02 
1.02 
1.00 

1.09 
1.08 
1.06 
1.05 
1.12 
1.08 


12.8 
12.8 
12.8 
12.5 
11.5 

10.3 
10.8 
11.8 
12.3 
10.3 

10.3 
11.3 
11.3 
12.3 
10.1 

15.1 
12.5 
15.4 
13.1 
12.3 

13.6 
13.9 
13.4 
13.4 
12.8 

15.4 
15.1 
14.5 
14.2 
16.3 
15.1 


1.10 
1.12 
1.12 
1.10 
1.06 

1.11 
1.08 
1.06 
1.16 
.82 

.65 
.93 
1.00 
.91 
.97 

.92 

.97 

1.01 

1.06 

1.18 

.98 
.99 

"'98' 
.99 

1.06 

1.04 

1.03 

.98 


15.7 


2 








16.3 


3 








16 3 


4 








15.7 


5 








14.5 


6 








16.0 


7 


0.88 


0.71 
.58 
.80 
.81 

.66 
.52 

.77 
.69 
.66 

.73 

.70 
.95 
.84 
.90 

.94 

.88 
.93 
.89 
.88 

.89 
.83 
.86 
.91 
1.05 
1.07 


6.8 
5.1 
8.3 
8.5 

6.0 
4.4 
7.8 
6.5 
6.0 

7.1 
6.7 

11.5 
9.1 

10.3 

11.3 
9.9 
11.0 
10.1 
9.9 

10.1 
8.9 
9.5 
10.5 
14.2 
14.8 


15.1 


8 


14.5 


9 




17.4 


10 




8.7 


11 




5.9 


12 




11.0 


13 




12.8 


14 




10.5 


15 




12.0 


16 




10.8 


17 




12.0 


18 




13.1 


19 




14.5 


20 




18.0 


21 




12.3 


22 




12.5 


23 







24 




12.2 


25 


.92 

.78 
.75 
.82 
.78 
.76 
.72 


12.5 


26 


14.5 


27 .... 


13.9 


28 


13.6 


29 


12.2 


30 





31 














Mean 




12.3 





14.4 




15.8 




9.0 




12.9 




12.6 



NOME BIVEE DEAIKAGE BASIN. 



107 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge^ in second-feet, of Campion ditch at Black Point 
for 1906-1909— GonXhmedi. 





1908 


1909 




June, 


July. 


August. 


September, 


August. 


September. 


Day. 




1 


1 

C5 




A 
'S 

1 


« 


1 

<D 


a5 

1 




6 

1 

ft 


1 
1 


1 
ft 


1 






0.62 
.62 
.63 
.58 
.55 

.50 
.44 
.38 
.34 
,32 

.52 
.82 
.60 
.45 
.36 

.34 
.34 
.34 
.28 
.27 

.28 
.18 
.15 
.20 
.20 

.20 
.20 
.16 
.14 

"".'48' 


9.6 
9.6 

9.8 
8.8 
8.2 

7.3 
6.3 
5.4 
4.9 

4.7 

7.7 
13.9 
9.2 
6.5 
5.2 

4.9 
4.9 
4.9 
4.2 
4,1 

4.2 
3.1 
2.8 
3.3 
3.3 

3.3 
3.3 
2.9 
2.7 


0.49 
.46 
.69 

".'82" 
.72 
.62 
.72 

.80 

"."48" 
.86 
.79 

.74 
.70 
.68 

"."84" 

(.82) 
.80 
.68 
.68 
.74 

.81 
.78 
.73 
.70 
.68 


7.1 

6.7 

11.0 

.0 

.0 

.0 
13.9 
11.6 
9.6 
11.6 

13.4 
.0 

7.0 
17.8 
13.2 

12.1 
11,2 
10.8 
.0 
14.4 

13.9 
13.4 
10.8 
10.8 
12.1 

13.6 
13.0 
11.9 
11.2 
10.8 
,0 


0.35 

.70 
.62 
.56 
.65 

.75 
.62 
.60 
59 
.55 

,50 
.50 

.48 
.46 
.50 

.55 
.55 
.50 
.48 
,46 

.40 


5.0 
11.2 
9.6 
8.4 
10.2 

12.3 
9.6 
9.2 
9.0 

8.2 

7.3 
7.3 
7.0 
6.7 
7.3 

8.2 
8.2 
7.3 
7.0 
6.7 

5.7 


0.15 
.19 
.24 
.28 
.28 

.26 
.26 

.28 
.28 
.30 

.10 
.10 
.40 
.44 
.42 

.40 
.40 
.40 
.44 
.42 

.44 
.42 
.40 
.40 
.40 

.40 


2.8 
3.4 
4.2 
4.9 
4.9 

4.5 
4.5 
4.9 
4.9 
5.2 

2.2 
2.2 

7.1 
8.0 

7.5 

7.1 
7,1 
7.1 

8.0 
7.5 

8.0 
7.5 
7.1 
7.1 
7.1 

7.1 
7.3 
7.5 
8.0 
7.1 
6.7 


0.38 
.40 
.40 
.44 
.42 

.40 
.40 
.34 
.34 
.34 

.32 
.30 

.30 
.42 
.40 

.44 
,42 
.40 
,40 


6.7 


2 






7.1 


3 






7.1 


4 






8.0 


5 






7.5 


6 






7.1 


7 






7.1 


8 






6.0 


9 






6.0 


10 ... 






6.0 


11. . ... . 






5.6 


12 






5.2 


13 






5.2 


14 






7.5 


15 . 






7.1 


16 






8.0 


17 






7.5 


18 




4.0 
6.0 
7.3 

11.2 
11.2 
J3.6 
12.1 
11.2 

13.0 
10.4 
10.2 
10.8 
11.2 


7,1 


19 




7.1 


20 


0.50 

.70 
.70 
.81 
.74 
.70 

.78 
.66 
.65 
.68 
.70 




21 






22 






23 










24 










25 










26 










27 ... 










28 






.42 
.44 
.40 
.38 






29 . . 










30 










31. 
























Mean 




10.2 




5.67 




9.43 




8.16 




6.08 




6,78 



Note.— The mean discharge for the period July 28 to 31, 1909, was 3.8 second-feet. 



MIOCENE DITCH SYSTEM. 



DESCRIPTION. 



The Miocene ditch system includes 31 miles of main ditch and 31 
miles of lateral feeders and distributing ditches, 8 miles of which are 
under construction. This ditch diverts water from upper Glacier 
Creek, upper Snake River, Nome River and its tributaries, and the 
Grand Central River drainage basin for use on claims along lower 
Glacier, Dexter, and Anvil creeks. 

The first section of this system was built in 1901, from upper Glacier 
Creek to Snow Gulch, this being the first ditch in Seward Peninsula. 
In 1902 an extension was made from the ^'X" to Hobson Creek, and 
in 1903 the ditch was extended to the head of Nome River, these 



108 SURFACE WATEB SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

three sections constituting the main line of the system, with a length 
of 31 miles. The elevation of the intake is 572 feet and that of the 
lower end 420 feet, giving a fall of 152 feet. This fall varies at dif- 
ferent points along the ditch, ranging from 3.17 to 7 feet to the mile. 
There are two siphons, one at Dorothy Creek, 24 inches by 300 feet, 
which carries about 40 second-feet, and one at Manila Creek, 40 
inches by 1,000 feet. Below Willow Creek there is a 1,100-foot 
flume. The main ditch has an average width of 8 feet above and 10 
feet below Hobson Creek, and a capacity of 60 second-feet. The mean 
flow is about 40 second-feet. 

The water is delivered from the end of the ditch on claims along 
Glacier Creek; on Anvil Creek by a tunnel 1,800 feet long and 4 by 6 
feet in cross section, built in 1903 and 1904; and on Dexter Creek by 
a ditch from the ^'X" around the south side of King Mountain. 

The lateral feeders, in order up the ditch, are: (1) From upper 
Glacier Creek to the ''X'' (this was the upper portion of the first 
section of the main ditch); (2) from Grouse and Cold creeks to 
flume; (3) from upper New Eldorado Creek to Buster Creek (it was 
originally intended to connect this feeder with the main ditch by a 
siphon across Nome River, but in 1907 it was extended to producing 
ground on Buster Creek) ; (4) the David Creek ditch, which empties 
into Nome River above the intake; (5) the Jett Creek ditch, which 
takes water from Jett and Copper creeks and carries it over the 
Nugget divide; (6) the Grand Central ditch, which is under construc- 
tion (this ditch diverts water from Nugget Creek and will tap the 
headwaters of Grand Central River). 

Discharge data have been collected at ^re points on the main 
ditch and on three of the laterals, as indicated in the list on page 92. 
Records on the Nugget and Jett Creek branches are included with 
the others, although these ditches are located in the Grand Central 
River drainage basin. 

MIOCENE DITCH AT BLACK POINT. 

This station was established July 1, 1906, and complete records 
have been kept of the amount of water diverted by the ditch since that 
date, except from October 1 to 12, 1906, when no record was kept. 
Although there is a small amount of leakage between the intake and 
the station, the records may be taken without appreciable error as 
indicating the amount of water diverted from the river. Measuring 
conditions are good and the channel is practically permanent. The 
maximum diversion was 51.5 second-feet in 1910; and the lowest dis- 
charge for one week, when all the water of Nome River was diverted, 
was 4.1 second-feet, for July 23 to 29, 1908. 



NOME KIVEE DRAINAGE BASIN. 

Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch at Blade Point, 1906 to 1910. 



109 



Date. 


• Hydrographer. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1906. 
July 7 
12 


F. F. Hensliaw 


Feet. 

('.80 
.89 
.71 
.68 
.46 
.39 

1.20 

1.30 
.85 

1.10 

.51 
.57 
.79 
.96 
.62 
.92 
1.13 

-.15 
.00 
1.16 
1.10 

.09 

.70 

.79 

.78 

-.18 

1.03 

1.08 

1.01 


«-*, 


Henshaw and Miller ... 


34.1 


21 


F. F. Henshaw 


27.5 


27 


Henshaw and Miller 


25.7 


29 


do 


20.6 


Aug. ^2 


F. F. Henshaw 


18.1 


Henshaw and Miller 


44 7 


23 


F. F. Henshaw 


48.3 


Sept. 11 
25 

1907. 
July 4 
10 
17 


Henshaw and Miller 


30.7 


do 

Raymond Richards 


38.2 
21.8 


do 

do ... 


24.2 
29.6 


Aug. 2 


Henshaw and Miller 


36.4 


F. F. Miller . 


25.1 


16 


Richards and Miller 


33.5 


16 


Raymond Richards . ... 


42.5 


1908: 
July 9 
9 


Henshaw and Miller 


7.2 


F. F. Henshaw 


9.9 


Aug. 13 
29 


A T Barrows 


44.5 


F. F. Miller 


40.0 


1909. 
June 22 


F. F. Miller 


12.3 


26 


.do 


31.5 


July 17 
17 


F. F Henshaw 


31.7 


. .do 


32.7 


Aug. 2 


do 


7.0 


9 


.do 


41.0 


9 

1910. 
Sept. 18 


do 

G. L. Parker 


44.3 
36.8 







Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Miocene ditch at Black Point 

for 1906-1910. 

[Observers, F. F. Miller, 1906-1909; George Peters, 1910.] 





1906 


1907 • 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


t 

1 


1 

S 




1 


■4-> 

1 


1 
P 


1 


1 


. 

■a 
I 


1 


1 


1 
1 

s 


1 


0.70 
.70 
.60 
.85 
.95 

.88 
.85 


27 

27 

24 

31.5 

34.8 

32.4 
31.5 







21 

36.5 

36.5 

36.5 

43.5 


0.40 
.38 
.35 
.34 
.33 

.34 
.52 
.48 
.37 
.40 

.81 
.82 
.96 
.60 
.50 


18.8 

18.5 

18 

17.8 

17.7 

17.8 
21.6 
20.6 
18.3 
18.8 

30.3 

30.6 

35.1 

24 

21 


1.20 
1.20 
1.20 
1.20 
1.20 

1.20 
1.17 
1.04 
1.00 
.98 

.82 
.80 
.80 
.76 
.72 


43.5 
43.5 
43.5 
43.5 
43.5 

43.5 
42.4 
37.9 
36.5 
36.8 

30.6 

30 

30 

28.8 

27.6 






1.05 
.98 
.91 
.85 
.80 

.68 
.61 
.64 
.61 
.52 

.52 
.52 
.50 
.55 
.45 


38.8 
36.5 
34.2 
32.2 
30.7 

27.0 
24.9 
25.8 
24.9 
22.3 

22.3 
22.3 
21.7 
23.1 
20.4 


1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.15 

1.15 
1.04 
1.08 
1.10 
.80 

.48 

.98 

1.15 

1.08 

1.00 


42.2 


2 






42.2 


3 


0.52 
.50 
.50 

.45 
.40 
.48 
.48 
.50 

.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.80 


22.3 
21.7 
21.7 

20.4 
19.2 
21.1 
21.1 
21.7 

21.7 
21.7 
21.7 
21.7 
30.7 


42.2 


4 


42 2 


5 


42.2 


6 


42.2 


7 


38.4 


8 


39.8 


9 




40.5 


10 




30.7 


11 


.50 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
1.20 


21.1 


12 


36.5 


13 


42.2 


14 


39.8 


15 


37.1 



110 



SUKFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Miocene ditch at Black Point 
for 1906-1910— Continued. 





1906 


1907 • 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


+-5 
■a 
1 

O 


xi 


1 




O 


1 


1 

03 
O 


i 

1 


1 
1 


1 


4i 
1 


i 
1 


16 


1.10 
1.10 
1.10 
.92 
.70 

.70 
.62 
.85 
.95 
.92 

.75 
.62 
.54 
.50 
.45 
.42 


40 
40 
40 
33.7 

27 

27 

24.6 

31.5 

34.8 

33.7 

28.5 

24. G 

22.2 

21 

19.9 

19.2 


.50 
.45 
.39 
.46 
.86 

1.12 
1.03 
1.17 
1.19 
1.20 

1.17 
1.16 
1.20 
1.20 
1.20 
1.20 


21 

19.9 
18.6 
20.1 
31.8 

40.7 
37.6 
42.4 
43.2 
43.5 

42.4 
42.1 
43.5 
43.5 
43.5 
43.5 


.66 
.64 
.78 
.80 
.58 

.69 
.92 

1.00 
.96 

1.05 

1.06 
1.22 
1.20 
1.20 
1.20 


25.8 

25.2 

29.4 

30 

23.4 

26.7 
33.7 
36.5 
35.1 
38.2 

38.6 
44.2 
43.5 
43.5 
43.5 


.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 

.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.85 

.86 
1.00 
.94 
.94 
.96 
1.10 


30.7 
30.7 
30.7 
30.7 
30.7 

30.7 
30.7 
30.7 
30.7 
32.2 

32.6 
37.1 
35.1 
35. 1 
35.8 
40.5 


.90 
1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.16 

1.16 
1.16 
1.10 
1.08 
1.02 

1.15 
1.16 
1.16 
1.16 
1.15 
1.15 


33.8 
42.2 
42.2 
42.2 
42.6 

42.6 
42.6 
40.5 
39.8 
37.7 

42.2 
42.6 
42.6 
42.6 
42.2 
42.2 


1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
1.08 
1.15 

1.08 
1.15 
1.15 
1.06 
1.00 

1.04 

.98 

.94 

1.02 

1.12 


37 1 


17 


37.1 


18 


37.1 


19 


39.8 


20 


42.2 


21 


39.8 


22 


42.2 


23 


42.2 


24 


39.1 


25 


37 1 


26 


38 4 


27 


36.5 


28 


35. 1 


29 


37.7 


30 


41.2 


31 














Mean 




27.4 




29.2 




35.9 




28.0 




34.4 




38.7 














June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1908. 
1 






0.78 
.46 
.30 
.22 
.21 

.16 

.13 

-.01 

-.06 

-.14 

-.12 

.18 

.00 

-.08 

-.14 

-.17 
-.18 
-.19 
-.26 
-.24 

-.29 
-.35 
-.36 
-.34 
-.34 

-.34 
-.34 
-.38 
-.38 
.82 
1.00 


30.1 
20.8 
16.4 
14.5 
14.2 

13.1 
12.5 
. 9. 7 
8.8 
7.4 

7.8 
13.6 
9.9 
8.5 
7.4 

6.9 
6.7 
6.6 
5.5 
5.8 

5.0 
4.2 
4.1 
4.3 
4.3 

4.3 
4.3 
3.8 
3.8 
31.3 
37.1 


1.05 
0.73 
.66 
.82 
.98 

1.15 
1.12 
.89 

.77 
.68 

1.10 
1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.15 

1.01 
.90 
.98 
1.15 
1.15 


38.8 
28.6 
26.4 
31.3 
36.4 

42.2 
41.2 
33.5 
29.8 
27.0 

40.5 
42.2 
42.2 
42.2 
42.2 

37.4 
35.8 
36.4 
42.2 
42.2 



42.2 
42.2 
42.2 
42.2 

42.2 
42.2 
42.2 
42.2 
38.8 
42.2 


1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.05 

0.92 
.86 
.89 
.79 
.76 

.66 
.55 
.67 
.54 
.75 

.74 
.61 
.52 
.54 
.45 

.45 
.44 


42.2 


2 






42.2 


3 






42.2 


4 






42.2 


5 






38.8 


6 






34.5 








32.6 


8 






33.5 


9 ;... 






30.4 


10 






29.5 


11 






26.4 


12 






23.2 


13 






26.7 


14 






22.9 


15 






29.2 


16 






28.8 


17 






24.9 


18 






22.3 


19 






22.9 


20 






20.4 


21 






20.4 


22 






1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.15 

1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.05 
1.15 


20.1 


23 








24 


0.15 
.52 

-58 
.58 
.74 
.70 
.81 


12.9 
22.3 

24.0 
24.0 
28.8 
27.6 
31.0 






25 






26 






27 






28 






29 






30 






31... 




















94.4 




10 7 




.37. 3 




29. fJ 































NOME KIVEE DRAINAGE BASIN". 



Ill 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Miocene ditch at Black Point 

for 1906-1910— GoTiXimiQdi. 









June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1909. 
1 






0.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 

1.00 
1.00 
1.05 
1.10 
1.10 

1.10 
1.10 
1.05 
.88 
.75 

.82 
.74 

.82 
.70 
.58 

.52 
.46 
.38 
.28 
.26 

.25 
.23 
.13 
.05 

- .08 

- .12 


33.3 
33.3 
33.3 
33.3 
33.3 

40.4 
40.4 
42.2 
44.0 
44.0 

44.0 
44.0 
42.2 
36.1 
31.6 

34.0 
31.2 
34.0 
29.8 
25.7 

23.7 
21.8 
19.3 
16.5 
15.9 

15.6 
15.1 
12.7 
11.0 
8.6 
7.9 


-0.14 

- .16 
+ .08 

.34 
.07 

- .03 

- .04 

- .08 
1.01 
1.10 

.66 
.44 
.66 
.69 
.56 

.30 
.24 
.20 
.18 
.14 

.12 
.11 
.09 
.05 
.00 

.02 
.04 
.05 

- .02 

- .05 

- .03 


7.5 
7.2 
11.6 
18.2 
11.4 

9.5 
9.3 
8.6 
40.8 
44.0 

28.4 
21.1 
28.4 
29.5 
25.0 

18.7 
15.4 
14.3 
13.8 
12.9 

12.5 
12.2 
11.8 
11.0 
10.0 

10.4 
10.8 
11.0 
9.6 
9.1 
9.5 


-0.10 

- .10 

- .12 

- .12 

- .04 

.00 

- .06 

- .15 

- .16 

- .16 

- .17 

- .20 

- .20 

- .12 

- .17 

- .15 

- .15 

- .15 

- .20 


8.2 


2 






8.2 


3 






7.9 


4 






7.9 


5 






9.3 


6 






10.0 


7 






8.9 


8 






7.4 


9 






7.2 


10 






7.2 


11 






7.0 


12 






6.5 


13 






6.5 


14 






7.9 


15 






7.0 


16 






7.4 


17 






7.4 


18 






7.4 


19 






6.5 


20 








21.... 










22 










23 


0.10 
.35 
.60 

.70 
.70 
.70 
.25 
.80 


12.0 
18.4 
26.4 

29.8 
29.8 
29.8 
15.6 
33.3 







24.. . 







25 







26 






27 






28 






29 






30 






31 

















Mean. 






24.4 




29.0 




15.9 




7.66 

















July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 




i 
1 

a 


1 


6 

1 


1 
1 


1 
1 


1 
1 


I 


4^ 

1 


Q 


1 
1 


1 

5 


1910. 
1 






0.80 

.87 
.84 
.84 
.83 

.88 

.93 

1.03 

1.06 

1.14 

1.20 
1.30 
1.30 
1.30 
1.30 


31.0 
33.3 
32.3 
32.3 
32.6 

33.6 
35.3 

38.7 
39.7 
42.5 

44.5 
48.0 
48.0 
48.0 
48.0 


1.40 
1.36 
1.40 
1.40 
1.40 


51.5 
50.1 
51.5 
51.5 
51.5 

0.0 
.0 
.0 

5.0 
12.0 

12.0 
12.0 
17.9 
20.6 
34.3 


1910. 
16 




5.0 
10.0 
11.2 
13.0 
14.7 

15.8 
20.4 
20.9 
20.4 
20.6 

21.2 
21.2 
20.4 
20.4 
20.4 
2.-^ 2 


1.25 
1.26 
1.34 
1.38 
1.39 

1.40 
1.40 
1.40 
1.39 
1.40 

1.40 
1.39 
1.38 
1.39 
1.40 
1.40 


46.2 
46.6 
49.4 
50.8 
51.2 

51.5 
51.5 
51.5 
51.2 
51.5 

51.5 
51.2 
50.8 
51.2 
51.5 
51.5 


.93 


35.3 


2 






17 


0.00 
.06 
.15 
.23 

.28 
.45 
.47 
.45 
.46 

.48 
.48 
.45 
.45 
.45 
.55 




98 
00 
00 
00 

00 


37 


3 






18 


37.7 


4 






19 


37.7 


5 






20 


37.7 


6 






21 


37.7 


7 








22 


10.0 


8 








23 






.0 


9 








24 






.0 


10 






0.10 

.10 
.10 
.36 
.46 
.90 


25 




40 

45 
45 
80 
80 
80 


19.0 


11 






26 


20 4 


12 






27 


20.4 


13 






28 


31 


14 






29 


31.0 


15 






30 


31.0 








31. 
























Mea 


XI. 


17.4 




45.1 




25.2 



Note.— The mean discharge for the period Oct. 1 to 3, 1910, was 3.91 second-feet. 
MIOCENE DITCH AT CLARA CREEK. 

This station was established July 7, 1907, and records were kept 
during 1907 and a part of 1909 only. There is practically no inflow 
between Black Point and this point, except during rains, so that a 



112 



SUKFACE WATEK SUPPLY OE SEWAKD PENINSULA. 



comparison of the records here with those at the station above 
shows the loss by seepage between the two. The greatest diversion 
was 35.2 second-feet in 1907. Practically no water reached the 
section in the lowest water of 1908. 

Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch at Clara Creek, 1907 to 1909. 



Date. 



Hydrographer. 



Gage 
height. 



Dis- 
charge. 



1907. 

July 9 
18 

Aug. 9 
20 
29 

Sept. 27 

1908. 
Sept. 1 

1909. 

July 16 

Aug. 2 

10 

Sept. 13 



F. F. Ilenshaw 

Kaymond Richards 

do 

....do 

....do 

F. F. Henshaw 



A. T. Barrows 



F. F. Henshaw 

do 

do 

G. L. Parker . . . 



Feet. 
0.50 
.79 
.60 
.91 
.92 



1.34 
.50 

1.45 
.35 



Sec.ft. 
18.2 
27.7 
21.1 
35.2 
34.7 
34.1 



35,2 



29.0 
4.14 

34.6 
1.97 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Miocene ditch at Clara Creeh 

for 1907 and 1909. 

[Observers, employees of Miocene Ditch Co. 





1907 


1909 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 




xi 
.5? 
.a 


i 




s 


1 




O 


s 


t 
1 

- o 


i 

o3 
ft 


to 

s 


s 


1 






!85 
.84 
.80 
.78 

,66 
,60 
.58 
.55 
.52 

.50 
.50 
.48 
.52 

.48 

.72 
.92 
.91 
.90 
.91 

,90 
,90 
.90 
,88 
.91 

.92 
.92 
.92 
.92 
.92 
.92 


33.5 
31.5 
31,0 
29.0 
28.1 

23.1 
21.0 
20.4 
19.6 
18.8 

18.2 
18.2 
17.7 
18.8 
17.7 

25.4 
35.2 
34.6 
34.0 
34.6 

34.0 
34.0 
34.0 
33.0 
34.6 

35.2 
35.2 
35.2 
35.2 
35.2 
35.2 


0.92 
.92 
,92 
,92 
.92 

,91 
,89 
.88 
,92 
,69 

.70 
.88 
.95 
.95 
.94 

.91 
.91 
.91 
.92 
.85 

.95 
.88 
.88 
.92 
.90 
.92 
.88 
.84 
.88 
,88 


35.2 
35.2 
35.2 
35.2 
35.2 

34.6 
33.5 
33.0 
35.2 

24.2 

24.5 
33.0 
37,0 
37.0 
36.4 

34.6 
34.6 
34.6 
35.2 
31,5 

37.0 
33.0 
33.0 
35.2 
34.0 
35.2 
33.0 
31.0 
33.0 
33.0 






0.55 
.50 
.78 
.92 
.68 

.62 
.30 


5.1 

4.2 
10.0 
14.2 

7.6 

6.4 
1.4 
11.0 
20.5 
36.0 

24.0 
16.3 
19.8 
24.8 
18.8 

16.3 
12.0 
10.5 
10.0 
9.2 

8.5 
8.0 
7.6 
6.4 
6.0 

6.0 
6.0 
6.0 
6.0 
6.6 
5.1 


0.52 
,50 
,45 
.40 

.55 

.48 
.40 
.40 
.40 

"'.'35' 


4,6 


2 










4,2 


3 




a 18.0 
O19.0 
O19.0 

O19.0 
18.8 
19.6 
18.2 
19.3 

19.9 
17.2 
18.2 
18.5 
25.0 

30.0 
26.8 
30.0 
28.6 
28,6 

29.5 
30.0 
29.0 
29.0 
29.0 

30.0 
33.0 
33.0 
30.5 
33.5 
35.2 






3.4 










2.6 


5 








5.1 


6 








3.9 


7 


0.52 
.55 
.50 
.54 

.56 
.46 
.50 
.51 
.71 

.82 
.75 
.82 
.79 
.79 

.81 
.82 
.80 
.80 
.80 

.82 
,88 
.88 
.83 
.89 
.92 






2.6 


g 






2 6 


9 






1.10 
1.50 

1.20 
.98 
1.08 
1.22 
1.05 

.98 
.85 
.80 
.78 
.75 

,72 
.70 
.68 
.62 
.60 

.60 
.60 
.60 
.60 
.58 
.55 


2.6 


10 






2.5 


11 






2.4 


12 






2.2 


13 






2.0 


14 








15 










16 .... 


1.35 
1.32 
1.22 
1.28 
1.25 

1.08 

1.02 

1.00 

,95 

,92 

,90 
,85 
.70 
.65 
.65 
.55 


30.0 
28.8 
24.8 
27.2 
26.0 

19.8 
17.7 
17.0 
15.2 
14.2 

13.5 
12.0 
8.0 
7.0 
7.0 
6,1 






17 






18 






19 






20 






21 






22 






23 






24 






25 






26 






27 






28 






29 . 






30 






31 
















Mean. 




25.4 




28.7 




33.7 




17.1 




11.3 





3.13 









a Estimated from Black Point records. 



NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



113 



MIOCENE DITCH ABOVE HOBSOIT CREEK 



This station was established in the spring of 1907, and readings on 
the gage have been continued since that time. The records show 
the amount of water delivered by the Nome River ditch at the Hob- 
son dam, and are used in connection with the records below the dam 
to obtain the discharge of Hobson Creek. 

The grade of the ditch is high, the current swift, and the channel 
rough, but fairly good results have been obtained. The maximum 
amount of water delivered was 43.3 second-feet in 1910. There was 
no water at all in the ditch during the latter part of the dry period 
of 1908. 

Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch above Rohson Creek, 1907-1910. 



Date. 



1907. 

July9 

July 19 

Aug. 9 

Aug. 29 

Sept. 17.. 

Sept. 28 

1908. 

July 10 

Aug. 12 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.88 
1.25 
.98 
1.38 
1.36 
1.30 



.38 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
17.6 
25.7 
18.8 
35.4 
31.7 
31.8 



3.37 
31.2 



Date. 



1908 
Sept. 1 

1909. 

July 15 

Aug. 1 

Sept. 13 

1910. 

Sept. 17 

Sept. 22 



Gage 
height. 



Feet 
1.40 



1.74 
1.60 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
33.6 



3.60 

.78 



36.2 
33.5 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Miocene ditch above Hobson 

Creek for 1907-1910. 

[Observer, C. D. McDennltt.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 




July. 


August. 


September. 




4^ 




^ 




^ 




^ 




^ 




+5 




Day. 


§ 


?; 


1 


S) 


i 


?; 


Day. 


M 


a 


M 


o 


-a 


?; 




^ 




1 






a 


1 


& 


1 


■s 


1 




o 


^ 


O 


A 


o 


s 




O 


ft 


o 


ft 


^ 


1907. 














1907. 














1 .. 






1.37 
1.31 
1.30 


33.1 
31.0 
30.6 


1.38 
1.38 
1.38 


33.5 
33.5 
33.5 


16.... 
17.... 
18.... 


1.17 
1.21 
1.20 


25.9 
27.4 
27.0 


1.02 
1.39 
1.38 


20.8 
33.8 
33.5 


1.36 
1.36 
1.37 


32.8 


2 






32.8 


3.... 


0.80 


14.7 


33.1 


4.... 


.90 


17.3 


1.20 


27.0 


1.38 


33.5 


19.... 


1.20 


27.0 


1.38 


33.5 


1.38 


33.5 


5.... 


.90 


17.3 


1.18 


26.3 


1.38 


33.5 


20.... 


1.16 


25.6 


1.38 


33.5 


1.35 


32.4 


6.... 


.90 


17.3 


1.04 


21.5 


1.38 


33.5 


21.... 


1.21 


27.4 


1.38 


33.5 


1.39 


33.8 


7.... 


.93 


18.1 


.97 


19.3 


1.35 


32.4 


22.... 


1.21 


27.4 


1.38 


3.3.5 


1.39 


33.8 


8.... 


.77 


13.9 


.95 


18.7 


1.31 


31.0 


23.... 


1.23 


28.1 


1.37 


33.1 


1.29 


30.2 


9.... 


.89 


17.0 


.99 


19.9 


1.39 


33.8 


24 


1.24 


28.4 


1.29 


30.2 


1.39 


33.8 


10.... 


.90 


17.3 


.90 


17.3 


1.42 


34.9 


25.... 


1.22 


27.7 


1.30 


30.6 


1.39 


33.8 


11..-. 


.89 


17.0 


.88 


16.8 




.0 


26.... 


1.22 


27.7 


1.38 


33.5 


1.39 


33.8 


12.... 


.85 


16.0 


.86 


16.3 


1.34 


32.0 


27 


1.33 


31.7 


1.38 


33.5 


1.35 


32.4 


13.... 


.89 


17.0 


.84 


16.7 


1.40 


34.2 


28.... 


1.33 


31.7 


1.38 


33.5 


1.27 


29.5 


14.... 


.89 


17.0 


.92 


17.9 


1.40 


34.2 


29.... 


1.28 


29.9 


1.38 


33.5 


1.30 


30.0 


16.... 


1.22 


27.7 


.80 


14.7 


1.37 


33.1 


30.-.. 
31 

Mean. 


1.27 
1.38 


29.5 
33.6 


1.38 
1.38 


33.5 
33.5 


1.35 


32.4 












23.6 




27.4 




31.8 



63851*— wsp 314—13 8 



114 



SUEPACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWABD PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feety and discharge, in second-feet, of Miocene diidi above Hohson 
Creel for I907-19i0— Continued. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


heflht. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1908. 
1 . 






0.94 
.81 
.65 
.56 
.56 

.50 
.44 
.35 
.38 
.32 

.32 

.54 
.45 
.32 
.28 

.24 
.16 
.16 

.10 
.12 

.12 


19.3 
15.7 
11.4 
9.3 

8.4 

7.9 
6.6 
4.7 
5.3 
4.1 

4.1 
8.8 
6.8 
4.1 
3.4 

2.7 

1.4 

1.4 

.5 

.8 

.8 
.2 
.1 
.1 
.1 

.0 
.0 
.0 
.0 
10.4 
28.0 


1.25 
1.10 
1.05 
1.15 
1.32 

1.34 
1.32 
1.25 
1.14 
1.14 

1.30 
1.36 
1.36 
1.36 
1.38 

1.32 
1.31 
1.30 
1.40 
1.38 

1.38 
1.38 
1.35 

1.35 
1.35 
1.35 
1.35 
1.32 
1.39 


28.3 
23.8 
22.4 
25.3 
30.4 

31.1 
30.4 
28.3 
25.0 
25.0 

29.8 
31.7 
31.7 
31.7 
32.4 

30.4 
30.1 
29.8 
33.0 
32.4 

.0 
32 4 
32.4 
32.4 
31.4 

31.4 
31.4 
31.4 
31.4 
30.4 
32.7 


1.39 
1.40 
1.40 
1.40 
1.34 

1.26 
1.26 
1.28 
1.22 
1.20 

1.08 
1.02 
1.10 
.95 
1.12 

1.25 
1.18 
1.05 
1.02 
.98 

.90 
.90 
.80 


32 7 


2 






33 


3 






33.0 


4 






33 


5 






31.0 


6 






28.8 


7 . 






28 6 


8 






29 2 


9 






27.4 


10 







26 8 


11 






23 2 


12 






21.6 


13 






23.8 


14 ... 







19 6 


15 






24.4 


16 






28.3 


17 . 






26 2 


18 






22.4 


19 






21.6 


20 - . 






20 4 


21 .... 






18 2 


22 






18.2 


23 








15 4 


24 










25 


0.80 

.81 

.80 

.90 

1.02 

1.04 


15.4 

15.7 
15.4 
18.2 
21.6 
22.1 








26 








27 








28 








29 








30 


.61 
1.24 






31 
















Mean... 




18.1 




5.4 




29.0 




25 5 














1909. 
1 






1.26 
1.24 
1.24 
1.21 
1.20 

1.32 
1.32 
1.34 
1.34 
1.35 

1.35 
1.35 
1.35 
1.25 
1.18 

1.21 
1.14 
1.05 
1.15 
1.07 

.83 
.80 
.84 
.76 
.70 

.68 
.62 
.60 
.49 
.46 
.38 


27.2 
26.6 
26.6 
25.7 
25.4 

29.0 
29.0 
29.6 
29.6 
29.9 

29.9 
29.9 
29.9 
26.9 
24.8 

25.7 
23.6 
21.0 
23.9 
21.6 

14.8 
14.0 
15.1 
13.0 
11.4 

10.9 
9.6 
9.0 
6.4 
5.8 
4.3 


0.31 
.28 
.28 
.90 
.62 

.48 
.20 


3.2 

2.8 
2.8 
16.8 
9.5 
6.2 
1.8 
.0 
17.4 
33.8 

24.5 
17.4 
17.4 
24.2 
18.2 

16.2 
10.9 
9.0 
9.0 
8.5 

7.8 
7.6 
6.6 
6.0 
4.6 

4.6 
4.3 
4.6 
3.8 
3.0 
3.0 


0.25 
.25 
.20 
.20 
.30 


2.4 


2 






2.4 


8 






1.8 


4 






1.8 


5 






3.0 


6 






2.0 


7 









1.8 


8 








1.8 


9 






.92 
1.48 

1.17 
.92 
.92 

1.16 
.95 
.88 
.68 
.60 
.60 
.58 

.55 
.54 
.50 
.42 
.40 

.40 
.38 
.40 
.35 
.30 
.30 




1.6 


10 








1.8 


11 








1.6 


12 








1.2 


13 






.09 


.8 


14 






.8 


15 








.8 


16 








.8 


17 








.8 


18 








.8 


19 








.8 


20 










21 










22 










23 


0.75 
.82 
1.05 

1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.10 
1.09 


12.7 
14.6 
21.0 

23.9 
23.9 
23.9 
22.4 
22.1 






24 






25 






26 






27 






28 






29 






30 






31 
















Mean 




20.6 




21.0 




9.84 




1.51 















KOME BIVEK DRAIITAGE BASIN. 



116 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Miocene ditch above Hobson 
Creehfor 1907-1910— Continued. 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


i 

1 


a 


1 

1 

o 




+5 

i 


1 

5 


1 


fl 


1 


! 


4i 

1 


1 


1910. 
1 






1.40 
1.40 
1.45 
1.60 
1.60 

1.55 
1.50 
1.55 
1.58 
1.60 

1.68 
1.65 
1.75 
1.75 
1.75 

1.75 


26.6 
26.6 
28.1 
32.7 
32.7 

31.2 
29.6 
31.2 
32.1 
32.7 

35.3 
34.3 
37.6 
37.6 
37.6 

37.6 


1.92 
1.92 

1.88 
1.88 
1.90 

1.00 

'i.io' 

1.10 

1.52 
1.35 
1.35 
1.45 
1.75 

1.75 


43.3 
43.3 
41.9 
41.9 
42.6 

15.5 

.0 

.0 

18.2 

18.2 

30.2 
25.2 
25.2 
28.1 
37.6 

37.6 


1910. 

17. .. 


0.92 
1.00 
1.10 
1.20 

1.18 
1.20 
1.18 
1.18 
1.12 

1.18 
1.08 
1.00 
1.00 
1.10 
1.30 


13.5 

15.5 
18.2 
20.9 

20.4 
20.9 
20.4 
20.4 
18.7 

20.4 
17.7 
15.5 
15.5 
18.2 
23.7 


1.85 
1.85 
1.85 
1.85 

1.85 
1.85 
1.85 
1.85 
1.85 

1.82 
1.85 
1.85 
1.85 
1.85 
1.90 


40.9 
40.9 
40.9 
40.9 

40.9 
40.9 
40.9 
40,9 
40.9 

39.9 
40.9 
40.9 
40.9 
40.9 
42.6 


1.74 
1.75 
1.76 
1.77 

1.75 
1.65 
1.65 
1.12 
1.08 

1.28 
1.50 
1.48 
1.56 
1.61 


37.2 


2 






18 


37.6 


3 






19 


37.9 


4 






20 


38.2 


5 






21 ... 










37.6 


6. .. 


22 


34.3 


7 






23 


34.3 


8. .. 






24 


18.7 


9 






25 


17.7 


10 






26 










23.1 


11 


27 


29.6 


12 






28 


29.0 


13 






29 


31.5 


14 






30 


33.0 


15 






31 

Mean. 






0.95 


14.2 






16. 




18.4 




36.7 





29.6 







Note.— The mean discharge for the period Oct. 1 to 3, 1910, was 33.8 seoond-feet. 
MIOCENE DITCH BELOW HOBSON CBEEK. 

Records at this station were begun in the spring of 1907 and are 
complete to 1910. The discharge includes that of the Nome River 
ditch and of Hobson Creek. In dry years like 1909 more than half 
the total amount of water comes from the latter source. In the fall 
slush ice does not affect the flow at this point as soon as at the other 
stations on the ditch, because the warm water from Hobson Creek 
keeps the temperature above freezing point. The maximum diver- 
sion was 59.9 second-feet in 1910; the minimum flow for one week, 
all of which was furnished by Hobson Creek, occurred July 23 to 29, 
1908, and was 6.2 second-feet. 

Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch below Hobson Creek, 1907 to 1910. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Dis- 
charge. 



Date. 



height. 



Dis- 



1907. 

July2 

July9 

July 19 

July 24 

Sept. 27 

1908. 

June 19 

July 10 

Aug. 12 

Aug.l2 

Sept.l 



Feet. 
1.60 
2.08 
2.30 
2.38 
2.38 



.64 
1.14 
1.08 
2.14 
2.30 



Sec. -ft. 
24.8 
39.1 
46.8 
49.4 
61.8 



3.70 
11.3 

9.24 
40.4 
45.0 



1909, 

July 15... 

July 15 

Aug.l 

Sept. 13 

1910, 

Sept. 17 

Sept. 22 



Feet. 
2.12 
2.11 
1.22 



2.78 
2.57 



Sec. -ft. 
39.0 
38.3 
13.2 



61.0 
51.2 



116 



SUEFACE WATEB SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Miocene ditch behw Hohson 

Creel for 1907-1910. 

[Observer, C. D. McDermitt.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 






July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


1 


^ 
d 


1, 
1 

1 


© 


1 


s 


Day. 


4i 

■a 

1 
1 

O 


1 
P 


•a 
1 

1 

o 


s 


4i 


I 


1907. 
1 


1.63 
1.60 
1.74 
2.10 
2.10 

2.05 
2.03 
2.09 
2.14 
2.10 

2.10 
2.10 
2.10 
2.10 
2.30 


25.5 
24.9 
28.3 
40.0 
40.0 

38.4 
37.7 
39.7 
41.5 
40.0 

40.0 
40.0 
40.0 
40.0 
47.4 


2.46 
2.36 
2.36 
2.27 
2.25 

2.11 
2.06 
1.98 
2.04 
1.95 

1.89 
1.89 
1.86 
1.93 
1.83 


53.5 
49.7 
49.7 
46.3 
45.5 

40.4 
38.7 
36.0 
38.0 
35.5 

33.0 
33.0 
32.1 
34.3 
31.0 


2.40 
2.39 
2.39 
2.40 
2.39 

2.38 
2.34 
2.34 
2.38 
2.45 


51.2 
50.8 
50.8 
51.2 
50.8 

50.4 
48.9 
48.9 
50.4 
53.1 



48.5 
51.2 
50.1 
47.4 


1907. 
16 


2.29 
2.31 
2.32 
2.31 
2.30 

2.30 
2.33 
2.38 
2.38 
2.34 

2.38 
2.46 
2.45 
2.37 
2.38 
2.49 


47.0 
47.8 
48.2 
47.8 
47.4 

47.4 
48.5 
60.4 
60.4 
48.9 

50.4 
63.5 
63.1 
50.1 
50.4 
54.7 


2.03 
2.33 
2.32 
2.31 
2.31 

2.34 
2.32 
2.30 
2.29 
2.34 

2.39 
2.39 
2.39 
2.40 
2.40 
2.40 


37.7 
48.6 
48.2 
47.8 
47.8 

48.9 
48.2 
47.4 
47.0 
48.9 

50.8 
50.8 
50.8 
51.2 
51.2 
51.2 


2.30 
2.30 
2.31 
2.31 
2.34 

2.33 
2.32 
2.33 
2.38 
2.35 

2.37 
2.37 
2.33 
2.36 
2.37 


47.4 


2 


17 


47.4 


3 


18 


47.8 


4 


19 


47.8 


5 


20 


48.9 


6 


21 


48.5 


7 


22.. . . 


48 2 


8 


23 


48.5 


9 


24 


50 4 


10 


25 


49.3 


11 


26.. 


50.1 


12 


2.33 
2.40 
2.37 
2.30 


27 


60.1 


13 


28 


48.6 


14. 


29 


49 3 


15 


30. . . 


60 1 




31 






Mean. 










43.8 





. 45.3 




47.9 














June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


heiJS. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1908. 
1 






1.96 
1.76 
1.60 
1.46 
1.42 

1.40 
1.34 
1.30 
1.28 
1.20 

1.18 
1.36 
1.27 
1.17 
1.13 

1.09 

1.04 

1.04 

.99 

.94 

.96 
.90 
.88 
.89 
.89 

.86 
.84 
.82 
.82 
1.34 
1.98 


33.6 
26.8 
22.0 
17.8 
16.6 

16.0 
14.4 
13.4 
12.9 
12.0 

11.6 
15.0 
13.7 
11.4 
10.6 

9.8 
9.0 
9.0 
8.2 
7.4 

7.7 
6.8 
6.5 
6.7 
6.7 

6.2 
6.0 
6.7 
5.7 
14.4 
34.3 


2.00 
1.80 
1.75 
1.80 
2.12 

2.15 
2.16 
2.05 
1.94 
1.85 

2.10 
2.18 
2.20 
2.24 
2.25 

2.22 
2.20 
2.20 
2.30 
2.29 

1.20 
2.28 
2.30 
2.30 
2.30 

2.30 
2.30 
2.30 
2.20 
2.28 
2.31 


35.0 
28.0 
26.5 
28.0 
39.2 

40.2 
40.6 
36.8 
32.9 
29.8 

38.5 
41.3 
42.0 
43.4 
43.8 

42.7 
42.0 
42.0 
45.5 
45.2 

12.0 
44.8 
45.5 
45.5 
45.5 

45.5 
45.5 
45.5 
42.0 
44.8 
45.8 


2.30 
2.30 
2.30 
2.30 
2.25 

2.18 
2.19 
2.18 
2.12 
2.08 

1.98 
1.88 
1.97 
1.84 
1.98 

2.08 
1.98 
1.85 
1.82 
1.79 

1.68 
1.70 
1.30 


46 5 


2 






45.5 


3 






45 5 


4 






45.5 


5 






43 8 


6 






41.3 


7 






41 6 


8 . . . 






41 3 


9 






39 2 


10 






37 8 


11 






34.3 


12 ... 






30 8 


13 






34 


14 






29 4 


15 






34.3 


16 






37 g 


17 






34 3 


18 






29 8 


19 ... . 


0.82 
1.00 

1.10 
1.10 
1.10 
1.10 
1.20 

1.80 
1.80 
1.90 
2.02 
2.08 


5.7 
8.3 

10.0 
10.0 
10.0 
10.0 
12.0 

28.0 
28.0 
31.5 
35.7 
37.8 


28 7 


20 


27 7 


21 


24 4 


22 


25 


23 


13 4 


24 




25 






26 






27 






28 






29 






30 






31.. 














.. .. 


Mean. 






18.9 




12.8 




39.5 




35 3 

























Note.— The mean discharge for the period June 28-30, 1907, was 25.8 second-^eet. 



NOME EIVEB DBAINAGB BASIN. 



117 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Miocene ditch below Eobson 
Creel for 1907-19^0— Continued. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1909. 
1 






2.15 
2.14 
2.22 
2.24 
2.22 

2.31 
2.30 
2.30 
2.30 
2.30 

2.30 
2.30 
2.30 
2.20 
2.15 

2.15 
2.09 
1.92 
2.05 
1.95 

1.84 
1.75 
1.72 

1.68 
L67 

1.55 
1.52 
1.48 
L40 
1.35 
1.28 


40.7 
40.4 
43.1 
43.8 
43.1 

46.4 
46.0 
46.0 
46.0 
46.0 

46.0 
46.0 
46.0 
42.4 
40.7 

40.7 
38.7 
33.0 
37.3 
34.0 

30.5 
27.6 
26.6 
25.4 
25.1 

21.6 
20.8 
19.6 
17.4 
16.0 
14.2 


L22 

1.18 
1.15 
1.60 
1.32 

1.28 
1.10 
1.00 
1.68 
2.19 

1.94 
1.62 

1.62 
1.87 
1.65 

1.58 
1.42 
1.40 
1.40 
1.35 

1.30 
1.30 
1.28 
1.21 
1.20 

1.20 
1.19 
1.20 
1.18 
1.15 
1.10 


12.7 
11.8 
11.1 
23.0 
15.2 

14.2 
10.0 
8.2 
25.4 
42.1 

33.7 
23.6 
23.6 
31.4 
24.5 

22.4 
18.0 
17.4 
17.4 
16.0 

14.7 
14.7 
14.2 
12.4 
12.2 

12.2 
12.0 
12.2 
11.8 
11.1 
10.0 


1.10 
1.06 
1.02 
1.00 
1.08 

1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
.99 
.98 

.98 
.96 
.93 
.99 
.93 

.94 
.98 
.92 
.91 


10.0 


2 






9.3 


3 






8.6 


4 






8.2 


5 






9.6 


6 






8.2 


7 






8.2 


8 






8.2 


9 






8.0 


10 






7.9 


11 






7.9 


12 






7.6 


13 






7.1 


14 






8.0 


15 






7.1 


16 . . 






7.2 


17 






7.9 


18 


1.05 
1.10 
1.40 

1.45 
1.40 
1.75 
1.80 
2.00 

2.10 
2.11 
2.10 
2.00 
2.11 


9.1 
10.0 
17.4 

18.8 
17.4 
27.6 
29.2 
35.6 

39.0 
39.3 
39.0 
35.6 
39.3 


6.9 


19 


6.8 


20 




21 






22 






23 






24 






25 






26 






27 






28 






29 






30 






31 




















27.5 




35.2 




17.4 




8.04 















Day. 



1910, 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13. 

14 

15 



July. 


August. 


September. 


^ 




+5 




+i 
















.W) 


S) 


•£f 


§}, 


.Sf 




5 


£i 


A 




^ 


1 


1 


i 


1 


J 


i 


g 


O 


« 


C5 


^ 


o 


ft 


1.00 


6.6 


2.50 


49.6 




68.8 


1.10 


8.1 


2.35 


44.2 


2.75 


58.8 


1.10 


8.1 


2.62 


50.3 


2.74 


58.4 


1.50 


17.5 


2.55 


51.4 


2.76 


59.1 


1.70 


23.1 


2.50 


49.6 


2.78 


69.9 


1.70 


23.1 


2.45 


47.8 




30.0 


1.90 


29.1 


2.50 


49.6 




.0 


1.90 


29.1 


2.55 


51.4 




.0 


2.00 


32.2 


2.58 


52.5 


1.10 


8.1 


1.80 


26.0 


2.60 


53.2 


2.40 


46.0 


1.80 


26.0 


2.62 


63.9 


2.40 


46.0 


2.10 


35.6 


2.62 


63.9 


2.40 


46.0 


1.85 


27.6 


2.62 


53.9 


2.50 


49.6 


1.85 


27.6 


2.65 


55.0 


2.55 


51.4 


1.90 


29.1 


2.70 


56.9 


2.70 


66.9 



Day. 



1910. 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30.. 

31 

Mean. 



July. 



1.95 
2.05 
1.95 
1.90 
1.80 

1.98 
2.06 
2.08 
2.10 
2.10 

2.20 
2.08 
1.75 
2.00 
2.30 
2.30 



30.6 
33.9 
30.6 
29.1 
26.0 

31.6 
34.2 
34.9 
35.6 
36.6 

39.0 
34.9 
24.6 
32.2 
42.5 
42.5 



28.6 



August. 



2.62 
2.72 
2.75 
2.75 

2.75 
2.74 
2.74 
2.75 
2.74 

2.75 
2.76 
2.75 
2.75 
2.78 
2.76 



56.2 
53.9 
57.6 
58.8 
58.8 

58.8 
58.4 
58.4 
58.8 
58.4 

68.8 
59.1 
58.8 
58.8 
59.9 
59.1 



65.0 



September. 



2.70 

2.68 

2.72 
2.74 
2.74 

2.60 
2.32 
1.60 
2.22 
2.29 

2.30 
2.40 
2.55 
2.60 
2.60 



66.9 
66.2 
57.6 
58.4 
68.4 

63.2 
43.2 
20.2 
39.7 
42.2 

42.5 
46.0 
51.4 
53.2 
63.2 



45.4 



Note.— The mean discharge for the period June 29-30, 1910, was 5. 
Oct. 1-3, 1910, was 62.6 second-feet. 



Gecond-feet; that for the period 



118 



SUEFAOE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



MIOCENE DITCH BELOW THE FLXTME. 

Gage heights were kept at this poiat for the Miocene Ditch Co. 
before any measurements were made, but those prior to 1906 were all 
lost in the San Francisco fire. Records are practically complete 
from 1906 to 1910. This is the lowest regular station on the ditch. 
It is located at the lower end of the flume, just below the Grouse 
Creek branch and 9.2 miles above the ^^X" where the ditch branches, 
one fork going to Dexter Creek and the other to Glacier Creek. 
The gage heights for 1906 and earlier years were kept a few feet above 
the lower end of the flume. Since then the gage has been located 
about 100 feet below, in the earth section of the ditch. The maxi- 
mum discharge of 64 second-feet occurred in 1910, and the minimum 
flow for a week was 4.2 second-feet July 23 to 29, 1908. 

Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch below the flume, 1906 to 1910, 



Date. 



Gage 
Sit. 



heig 



Dis- 
charge. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Dis- 
charge. 



1906, 

July 4 

July 27 

Aug.2 

Sept. n 

Sept. 25 

Sept. 26 

1907. 

July 2 

Julys 

July 19 

July 23 

Aug. 10 

Aug. 29 

Sept. 28 



0.95 
1.08 
.81 
1.50 
1.85 
1.65 



1.58 
1.51 
1.99 
2.09 
1.63 
2.05 
2.02 



29.8 
36.5 
28.3 
43.9 
58.2 
48.3 



36.1 
32.2 
50.1 
65.3 
32.6 
50.8 
50.0 



1908. 

July 11 

Aug. 11 

Aug. 30 

Aug. 31 

1909. 

July 15 

July 31 

Aug. 10 

Sept. 12 

1910. 
Sept. 17 



0.83 
1.63 
1.78 
1.86 



1.52 
.70 

1.40 
.50 



2.11 



12.1 
35.9 
42.1 
44.2 



12.0 

35.3 

6.32 



J. 7 



NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



119 



Daily gage height, infut, and discharge, in second-feet, of Miocene dUch below the flume 

for 1906-1910. 

[Observois, J. W. Warwick, 1906-1909; O. Carlson, 1910.] 





1906 


1907 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


1 


S 


1 
1 


5 


i 


ft 


i 


ft 


1 
1 


1 

5 


1 


1 




1906. 
1 


0.98 

.95 

.92 

1.00 

1.08 

1.09 
1.12 
(o) 

'(^ 

.79 
1.10 
1.26 
1.29 
1.28 

1.39 
1.35 
1.35 
1.28 
1.19 

1.16 
1.11 
1.19 
1.09 
1.26 

1.17 
1.07 
.98 
.95 
.91 
.88 


31.6 
30.8 
29.9 
32.1 
34.3 

34.5 
35.3 







26.4 
34.8 
39.1 
39.9 
39.7 

42.6 
41.6 
41.6 
39.7 
37.2 

36.4 
35.1 
37.2 
34.5 
39.1 

36.7 

34 

31.6 

30.8 
29.7 
28.9 


0.82 
.81 

.84 
.89 
.90 

.91 
.93 
.98 
.90 
.88 

1.01 
1.13 
1.23 
1.02 
.94 

.92 
.91 

.87 

.86 

1.10 

1.29 
1.28 
1.32 
1.40 
1.44 

1.55 
1.34 
1.46 
1.51 
1.56 
1.50 


27.2 

27 

27.8 

29.1 

29.4 

29.7 
30.2 
31.6 
29.4 
28.9 

32.4 
35.6 
38.3 
32.6 
30.5 

29.9 
29.7 
28.6 
28.3 
34.8 

39.9 
39.7 
40.7 
42.9 
44 

47 

41.3 

44.5 

45.9 

47.3 

45.6 


1.71 
1.71 

1.70 
1.70 
1.70 

1.69 
1.66 
1.68 
1.63 
1.54 

1.49 
1.46 
1.45 
1.41 
1.40 

1.34 
1.31 
1.47 
1.48 
1.52 

1.58 
1.65 
1.61 
1.60 
1.71 

1.63 
1.75 
1.76 
1.79 
1.80 


51.5 
61.5 
51.2 
51.2 
51.2 

50.9 
50.1 
50.6 
49.2 
46.7 

45.3 
44.6 
44.2 
43.2 
42.9 

41.3 
40.5 
44.8 
45.1 
46.2 

47.8 
49.8 
48.7 
48.4 
61.6 

49.2 
52.6 
52.9 
53.7 
54 


1.56 
1.56 
1.56 
1.74 
1.75 

1.75 
1.70 
1.77 
1.80 
1.88 

1.77 

1.80 
1.85 
1.85 
1.92 

1.80 
1.95 
1.95 
1.95 
1.95 

2.00 
2.00 
2.02 
1.99 
2.01 

2.05 
2.08 
2.06 
2.04 
2.00 
2.03 


33.5 
33.5 
33.5 
39.6 
40.0 

40.0 
38.0 
40.8 
42.0 
44.4 

41.0 
42.0 
44.0 
44.0 
46.8 

42.0 
48.0 
48.0 
48.0 
48.0 

50.0 
50.0 
60.8 
49.6 
50.4 

52.0 
63.2 
52.4 
51.6 
50.0 
51.2 


2.05 
2.00 
1.92 
1.86 
1.82 

1.78 
1.70 
1.68 
1.69 
1.63 

1.58 
1.66 
1.54 
1.58 
1.50 

1.71 
1.96 
1.95 
1.92 
1.94 

1.95 
1.93 
1.92 
1.92 
1.95 

2.00 
2.04 
2.01 
2.04 
2.06 
2.03 


52.0 
50.0 
46.8 
44.4 
42.8 

41.2 
38.0 
37.3 
37.7 
35.6 

34.0 
33.5 
32.9 
34.0 
31.8 

38.4 
48.4 
48.0 
46.8 
47.6 

48.0 
47.2 
46.8 
46.8 
48.0 

50.0 
61.6 
50.4 
51.6 
52.4 
61.2 


2.02 
2.00 
2.00 
2.00 
2.00 

2.00 
1.99 
1.98 
2.04 
2.10 

(«) 
1.98 
2.02 
2.12 
2.10 

2.10 
2.10 
2.11 
2.12 
2.10 

2.13 
2.08 
2.04 
2.09 
2.09 

2.08 
2.08 
2.03 
2.03 
2.04 


60.8 


2 


50.0 


3 . 


50 


4 


60.0 


5 


60 


6 


50.0 


7... 


49 6 


8 


49.2 


9.. 


51 6 


10 


54.0 


11.. 





12 


49.2 


13.. 


60 8 


14 


64.8 


15 


64 


16 


64.0 


17 


54.0 


18 


54.4 


19 


54.8 


20 


54.0 


21 


65.2 


22.. . 


53.2 


23 


51.6 


24 


63.6 


25 


63.6 


26.. 


53.2 


27 


63.2 


28 


61.2 


29 


51.2 


30 


51.6 


31 














Mean 




31.8 




35.2 




48.4 




45.1 




44.0 





60.4 









a Ditch broken by heavy rains. 
Noi£.— The mean discharge for the period June 28 to 30, 1907, was about 28 second-lMt. 



120 



SUBFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWABD PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Miocene ditch below the flume, 
for 1906-1910— Contmned. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
hel^t. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1908. 
1 






1.54 
1.35 
1.20 
1.08 
1.04 

1.01 
.92 
.90 
.83 
.81 

.82 
.94 
.88 
.76 
.72 

.67 
.65 
.64 
.61 
.68 

.59 

.54 
.50 
.50 
.51 

.49 
.48 
.48 
.48 
.95 
1.51 


33.5 
27.4 
22.8 
19.2 
18.1 

17.2 
14.6 
14.0 
12.0 
11.5 

11.8 
15.2 
13.4 
10.2 
9.1 

7.9 
7.5 
7.3 
6.6 
6.0 

6.2 

5.2 
4.4 
4.4 
4.6 

4.2 
4.0 
4.0 
4.0 
15.4 
32.5 


1.49 
1.34 
1.29 
1.42 

1.66 

1.66 
1.63 
1.57 
1.48 
1.40 

1.54 
1.54 
1.74 
1.75 
1.76 

1.73 
1.70 
1.69 
1.77 
1.76 

.94 
1.76 
1.79 
1.84 
1.84 

1.83 
1.81 
1.80 
1.78 
1.79 
1.86 


31.9 
27.1 
25.^ 
29.6 
37.4 

37.4 
36.4 
34.4 
31.6 
29.0 

33.5 
33.5 
40.2 
40.5 
40.8 

39.8 
38.8 
38.5 
41.2 
40.8 

15.2 
40.8 
41.9 
43.6 
43.6 

43.2 
42.5 
42.2 
41.5 
41.9 
44.2 


1.83 
1.84 
1.84 
1.81 
1.78 

1.72 
1.68 
1.69 
1.66 
1.59 

1.51 
1.45 
1.52 
1.50 
1.52 

1.60 
1.52 
1.46 
1.42 
1.36 

1.32 

1.27 

.59 


43 2 


2 






43.6 


3 






43 6 


4 







42.5 


5 






41.5 


6 






39.5 


7 






38.1 


8 






38.5 


9 






37.4 


10 ... 






35.1 


11 . 






32.5 


12.. 






30.6 


13 






32.8 


14 






32.2 


15 






32.8 


16 






35.4 


17 






32.8 


18 






30.9 


19 


0.70 
.74 

.89 
.91 
.81 
.88 
1.07 

1.29 
1.44 
1.49 
1.52 
1.59 


8.6 
9.6 

13.7 
14.3 
13.2 
13.4 
18.9 

25.6 
30.3 
31.9 
32.8 
35.1 


29.6 


20 


27.8 


21 


26.5 


22 


25.0 


23 


6.2 


24 




25 






28 






27 






28 






29 






30 






31 
















Mean 




20.6 




12.1 




37.0 




33.8 
















1909. 
1 






1.62 
1.60 
1.63 
1.64 
1.61 

1.68 
1.66 
1.65 
1.65 
1.65 

1.65 
1.63 
1.59 
1.54 
1.46 

1.48 
1.42 
1.37 
1.37 
1.30 

1.21 
1.14 
1.11 
1.03 
.98 

.96 
.93 
.91 

.82 
.74 
.70 


43.6 
42.8 
43.9 
44.3 
43.2 

45.8 
45.1 
44.7 
44.7 
44.7 

44,7 
43.9 
42.4 
40.5 
37.6 

38.3 
36.1 
34.3 
34.3 
31.8 

28.6 
26.2 
25.1 
22.4 
20.8 

20.1 
19.2 
18.5 
15.6 
13.1 
11.9 


0.66 
.62 
.68 
.98 
.81 

.72 

.62 

.50 

1.01 

1.42 

1.28 
1.03 
1.02 
1.15 
1.04 

.97 
.89 
.84 
.82 
.79 

.77 
.75 
.73 

.69 
.69 
.67 
.66 
.69 
.67 
.62 
.61 


10.7 
9.5 
11.3 
20.8 
15.3 

12.5 

9.5 

6.4 

21.7 

36.1 

31.1 

22.4 
22.1 
26.5 
22.8 
20.4 
17.9 
16.3 
15.6 
14.7 

14.1 
13.4 
12.8 
11.6 
11.6 

11.0 
10.7 
11.6 
11.0 
9.5 
9.2 


0.60 
.60 


8.9 


2 






8.9 


3 






8.3 


4 








8.0 


5 








9.2 


6 










7.8 


7 








7.8 


8 








7.7 


9 







.55 


7.6 


10 






7.1 


11. 






.51 
.50 


6.6 


12 






6.4 


13 






6.2 


14 








7.6 


15 








6.2 


16 








9.0 


17 






.68 


11.3 


18 






7.5 


19 


0.49 
.86 

.99 

.99 

1.18 

1.29 

1.40 

1.50 
1.54 
1.57 
1.57 
1.47 


6.2 
16.9 

21.1 
21.1 
27.5 
31.4 
35.4 

39.0 
40.5 
41.7 
41.7 
37.9 


.53 


7.2 


20 




21 






22 






23 






24 






25 






26 






27 






28 






29 ... 






30 






31 
















Mean 




30.0 




33.8 




15.8 




7.86 















NOME ElVEE DEAINAGB BASlN. 



121 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Miocene ditch below the flume, 
for 1906-1910— Contiimed. 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


-a 
1 
1 

o 


1 


t 
1 
1 


1 




1 


i 


ft 


1) 
1 

1 


s 


s 


t 

s 


1910. 
1 


0.68 
.80 
.85 
.92 

1.04 

1.15 
1.32 
1.35 
1.25 
1.22 

1.38 
1.40 
1.36 
1.37 
1.45 


8.2 
11.2 
12.6 
14.5 
18.0 

21.2 
26.4 
27.4 
24.2 
23.3 

28.4 
29.0 
27.7 
28.0 
30.6 


2.13 
1.96 
2.06 
2.15 
2.10 

2.09 
2.08 
2.10 
2.10 
2.12 

2.12 
2.18 
2.20 
2.20 
2.20 


54.2 
47.8 
51.6 
55.0 
53.1 

52.7 
52.3 
53.1 
53.1 
53.9 

53.9 
56.2 
57.0 
57.0 
57.0 


2.35 
2.36 
2.38 
2.38 
2.38 

■i.'24' 
1.98 

1.90 
1.90 
1.92 
1.92 
2.15 


62.8 
63.2 
64.0 
64.0 
64.0 







23.9 
48.6 

45.6 
45.6 
46.3 
46.3 
56.0 


1910. 
16 


1.42 
1.54 
1.54 
1.55 
1.75 

1.62 
1.72 
1.71 
1.70 
1.70 

1.70 
1.70 
1.70 
1.58 
1.99 
1.96 


29.7 
33.6 
33.6 
34.0 
40.6 

36.3 
39.6 
39.2 
38.9 
38.9 

38.9 
38.9 
38.9 
34.9 
48.9 
47.8 


2.21 
2.16 
2.35 
2.35 
2.37 

2.38 
2.38 
2.36 
2.35 
2.33 

2.35 
2.35 
2.32 
2.30 
2.30 
2.31 


57.4 
55.4 
62.8 
62.8 
63.6 

64.0 
64.0 
63.2 
62.8 
62.1 

62.8 
62.8 
61.7 
60.9 
60.9 
61.3 


2.15 

(«) 
(o) 

1"! 

(a) 
(a) 

la) 
(a) 
(a) 
(«) 


55.0 


2 


17 


63 


3 


18 


53 


4 


19 


53 


5 


20 


53 


6 


21 


53 


7 


22 


53 


8 


23 


53 


9 


24 


53 


10 


25 


53 


11 


26 


53 


12 


27 


53 


13 


28 


53 


14 


29 


53 


15 


30 


53 




31 






Mean. 










30.4 




57.9 




47.5 



a According to the observer, the gage height for the interval Sept. 17-30, 1910, averaged 2.10. 
Note.— The discharge for June 30, 1910, was 10.7 second-feet. 

DAVID CREEK DITCH OPPOSITE BLACK POINT. 

This station was maintained for a part of August, 1906, and 
whenever water was diverted during the seasons of 1907 to 1909. 
It was first located just above the point where the water is dropped 
into a small gully, through which it reaches Nome River. In 1907 
it was moved up to the railroad crossing, its present location. 
The capacity of the ditch was about 14 second-feet in 1906 and was 
increased to 20 second-feet in the spring of 1907. The maximum 
diversion was 16.5 second-feet in 1907. The discharge was less than 
1 second-foot at one time in 1908, but the exact minimum was not 
determined. 

Discharge measurements of David Creel ditch opposite Black Point, 1906 to 1909. 





Date. 


Gage 
hei^^t. 


Dis- 
charge. 


July 3... 


1906. 


Feet. 


8€C.-ft. 

3.60 
6.42 
4.40 
7.88 
5.38 
7.60 
10.1 
13.7 
13.7 
11.4 

8.93 


July29 




Aug. 3 




Aug. 23. . . 


0.61 
.41 
.49 
.63 
.78 
.81 
.68 

.50 


Do 


Do 


Do 


Do 


Do 


Do 


July 17... 


1907. 



Date. 



1907. 

July 25 

Do 

Aug. 3 

1908, 

JulyO 

Aug. 13 

1909. 

July 16 

Aug. 2 

Aug. 9 



Gage 
heignt. 



Feet. 
0.79 



.37 
.90 



.65 
.28 
.49 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
13.0 
13.7 
11.5 



3.08 
14.3 



7.69 
2.95 
6.48 



122 



SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OE SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of David CreeJc ditch for 1906-1909. 

[Observer, F. F. Miller.] 





August, 1906. 


1907 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 




Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
heiglit. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1. 










0.75 
.70 
.80 
.69 
.67 

.62 
.60 
.56 
.56 
.52 

.52 
.52 
.52 
.50 
.50 

.80 
.82 
.80 
.90 
.90 

.95 
.95 

.72 
.70 
.72 

.72 
.75 
.75 
.75 
.75 
.75 


12.4 
11.6 
13.2 
11.5 
11.2 

10.5 
10.2 
9.6 
9.6 
9.1 

9.1 
9.1 
9.1 
8.9 
8.9 

13.2 
13.5 
13.2 
14.9 
14.9 

15.8 
15.8 
11.9 
11.6 
11.9 

11.9 
12.4 
12.4 
12.4 
12.4 
12.4 


0.70 
.65 

.80 
.80 
.72 

.70 
.68 
.60 
.60 
.50 

.55 


11.6 


2 










10.9 


3 . 










13.2 


4 


0.35 
.35 

.35 
.42 
.38 
.37 
.37 

.38 
.40 
.38 
.35 
.34 

.33 
.39 
.31 

.29 
.40 

.38 
.50 
.52 
.48 
.54 

.77 
.34 
.40 
.41 
.78 
.80 


4.4 
4.4 

4.4 
5.8 
6.0 
4.8 
4.8 

6.0 
6.4 
5.0 
4.4 
4.3 

4.1 
6.2 
3.7 
3.3 
5.4 

5.0 

7.5 
7.9 
7.1 
8.3 

13.2 
4.3 

5.4 
5.6 
13.4 
13.8 






13 2 








11.9 


6 






11.6 


7 






11.3 


g 






10 2 


9 






10.2 


10 






8 9 


11 






9.5 


12 









13 











14 











15 











16 











17. .. 


0.50 
.52 
.50 
.60 

.60 
.60 
.80 
.80 
.80 

.80 
.70 
.65 
.75 
.75 
.75 


8.9 
9.1 
8.9 
10.2 

10.2 
10.2 
13.2 
13.2 
13.2 

13.2 
11.6 
10.9 
12.4 
12.4 
12.4 







18 


.90 
.99 
.85 

.85 
.73 
.68 

."58" 

.57 
.54 
.50 
.50 
.45 


14.9 


19 


16.5 


20 


14.0 


21 . . 


14.0 


22 


12.1 


23 .. 


11.3 


24 


10.6 


25 


9.9 


26 


9.8 


27 


9.4 


28 


8.9 


29 


8.9 


30 


8.3 


31 














6.1 




11.3 




11.8 




9.0 















Note.— These discharges are believed to represent the total flow of the creek from Aug. 3 to 20, 1906, 
and from about July 23 to Sept. 8, and Sept. 19 to 30, 1907. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day- 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1908. 
1 






0.62 
.42 
.40 
.40 

.40 

.40 
,40 
.40 
.37 
.39 

.46 
.34 
.36 
.40 
.36 

.36 



7.4 
3.8 
3.5 
3.5 
3.5 

3.5 
3.5 
3.5 
3.1 
3.4 

4.4 

2.7 
3.0 
3.5 
3.0 

3.0 
2.5 
2.0 
2.0 
1.8 


0.68 
.48 


8.6 

4.7 

.0 

.0 

.0 

.0 

8.6 
9.2 
9.6 
10.2 

11.5 

14.3 
13.4 
12.6 

12.6 

12.0 

11.5 






0.82 


12.1 


2 






12 1 


3 






.82 
.82 
.82 

.78 
.74 
.72 
.66 
.64 


12.1 


4 








12 1 


5 








12.1 


6 








11 


7 






.68 


10.0 


8 






9.5 


9 








8.2 


10 






.75 
.80 


7.8 


11 






8 


12 






.66 


8.2 


13 






.90 


8.0 


14 






.64 
.60 

.60 
.60 
.60 
.58 


7.8 


15 - 






.84 
.84 


7.0 


16. 






7.0 


17.., 






7.0 


18 






.28 
.28 


.80 


7.0 


19 






6.6 


20 








6.0 



NOME EIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



128 



Daily gage height, infect, and discharge, in second-feet, of David Creek ditch for 1906-1909 — 

Continued. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
hei^t. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1908. 
21 








1.8 
1.6 
1.4 

1.2 
1.2 

1.0 

1.0 

.8 

.8 

9.0 




0.80 


11.5 
11.5 
11.5 
12.1 
11.8 

11.5 
11.5 
11.5 
11.5 
12.1 





6.0 


22 . -. 










6.0 


23 








.80 
.82 






24. ... 












25 






0.20 






26 


0.20 
.40 
.70 
.70 
.60 


1.2 
3.5 
9.0 
9.0 
7.0 


.80 






27 .. 








28 










29 




.80 
.82 






30 


.70 






31 
























5.9 




2.8 




8.2 




8.7 














1909. 
1 






0.60 
.60 


8.8 
8.8 
7.8 
6.7 
6.7 

16.2 
16.2 
16.2 
16.2 
13.6 

14.9 
13.6 
8.8 
7.8 
6.7 

7.8 
6.7 
8.8 
5.8 
4.5 

4.5 
4.5 
4.5 
4.4 
4.4 

4.3 

4.2 
4.0 
4.0 
3.8 
3.5 




3.3 
3.0 
3.0 
4.2 
3.9 

3.6 
3.3 
3.1 
7.1 
6.2 

5.2 
6.2 
7.1 
6.6 
6.1 

5.6 
5.2 
5.0 
4.8 
4.5 

4.2 
4.0 
3.8 
3.8 
3.7 

3.7 
3.6 
3.6 
3.5 
3.4 
3.4 




3.3 


2 






0.28 
.28 
.36 


0.30 


3.2 


3 






« 3.2 


4 






.50 
.50 

.90 
.90 




•3:1 


5 








3.0 


6 










2.9 


7 










2.8 


8 






.29 
.62 


.26 


2.7 


9 






.90 
.80 

.85 
.80 
.60 
.55 
.50 
.55 
.50 
.60 
.45 
.38 

.38 


2.7 


10 




. 




2.7 


11 






.42 


.26 


2.7 


12 






2.6 


13 . 






.52 




2.6 


14 







.23 


2.4 


15. 









2.6 


16 








.26 


2.7 


17. 






.42 


2.6 


18 








2.5 


19 










2.4 


20 












21 












22 












23 






.38 


.34 






24 


0.32 


3.5 

6.2 

8.8 

16.2 





8.8 






25 










26 


.60 
.90 










27 


.36 








28 








29 












30 . 


.60 


.34 








31 






















Mean 




6.2 




8.0 




4.4 




2.8 















JETT CREEK DITOH. 

The Jett Creek ditch was constructed during 1906 to divert the 
water of Jett and Copper creeks over the Nugget divide. The water 
was turned in from Copper Creek July 20 and from Jett Creek August 
18 of that year, and the ditches have been used during the greater 
part of each succeeding summer except in 1910, when there was an 
ample supply without this diversion. The water was occasionally 
turned out during wet periods of 1906-1909. 

A few miscellaneous measurements were made in 1906. In July, 
1907, before the water was turned in, a gage was established which 
was read during 1907 and 1909. It was located just below the junc- 
tion of the two branches and shows practically the exact amount of 



124 



SUEI^ACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENIKStTLA. 



water delivered from this source over the Nugget divide. The maxi- 
mum diversion was 8.2 secoud-feet in 1907. The ditch can be made 
to hold somewhat more than this amount of water, but when water 
is available from the two creeks it is not needed on Nome River. 
No water reached the outlet during the dry period of 1908. 

Discharge measurements of Jett Creek ditch below siphon, 1906 to 1909. 



Aug. 29. 
Aug. 31. 
Sept. 2.. 
Sept. 7.. 
Sept. 10 . 
Sept. 14. 



July 31. 
Do. 



Date. 



1906. 



1907. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



1.59 
1.38 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
4.63 
7.31 
9.22 
7.19 
5.30 



8.12 
5.29 



Date. 



1907. 

July 31 

Do 

1908. 
July9 

1909. 

July 17 

Aug. 3 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.21 
0.75 



1.00 
.76 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 




.50 



2.72 
.52 



Daily gage height, in^ 



and discharge, in second-feet, of Jett Creek ditch for 1907 and 1909. 
[Observer, A. D. Jett] 





1907 






1909 








July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


bo 
'53 

O 


1 
1 


1 

C3 


.1 
ft 


W) 

1 
1 

O 


1 


bO 
1 


1 


© 

1 


1 


i 




S 


J 






1.69 
1.50 
1.45 
1.40 
1.35 

1.33 
1.33 
1.33 
1.25 
1.25 

1.25 
1.25 
1.30 
1.30 
1.30 

1.65 
1.50 
1.60 
1.60 
1.55 

1.50 
1.45 
1.45 
1.50 
1.50 

1.45 
1.50 
1.55 
1.55 
1.50 
1.50 


8.1 
6.9 
6.2 
5.6 
6.0 

4.8 
4.8 
4.8 
3.9 
3.9 

3.9 
3.9 
4.4 
4.4 
4.4 

7.6 
6.9 
8.2 
8.2 
7.6 

6.9 
6.2 
6.2 
6.9 
6.9 

6.2 
6.9 
7.6 
7.6 
6.9 
6.9 


1.50 
1.50 
1.50 
1.45 
1.45 

1.46 
1.45 
1.50 
1.60 

"i.'eo" 

1.60 
1.60 


6.9 
6.9 
6.9 
6.2 
6.2 

6.2 
6.2 
6.9 
8.2 




8.2 
8.2 
8.2 








0.6 

0.4 

.8 
1.1 
1.0 

1.0 
1.3 
3.0 

4.8 
8.2 

7 

6 

3 

2.0 

2.1 

2.2 
2.2 
2.2 
2.2 
2.1 

2.0 
X.9 
1.8 
1.7 
1.6 

1.6 
1.4 
1.3 
1.2 
1.1 
1.0 


'6.' 80' 


1.0 


2 






:;;::: 


4 
4 
4 
4 

4 
4 
4 
4 

8 

7 
6 
5 
4 
3 

3 

2.7 
2.5 
2.3 
2.2 

2.1 
2.0 
1.9 
1.8 
1.6 

1.6 
1.3 
1.2 
1.0 
.8 
.7 


0.72 

"'.'82' 

"i.'26' 

1.50 

■".'92" 

.96 
"."95" 




1 


3 






1.0 


4 








5 






.9 


6 






.9 


7 






.9 


8 . -- 






.8 


9 








10 ... 








11 






.6 


12 


1.15 
1.35 
1.32 
1.15 

1.20 
1.15 
1.18 
1.19 
1.30 

1.42 
1.22 
1.32 
1.38 
1.40 

1.45 
1.45 
1.42 
1.45 
1.50 
1.59 


3.0 
5.0 

4.6 
3.0 

3.4 
3.0 
3.2 
3.3 
4.4 

6.9 
3.6 
4.6 
5.4 
5.6 

6.2 
6.2 
5.9 
6.2 
6.9 
8.1 


.6 


13 


.6 


14 . . 


.6 


15 




16 










17 






1.00 




18 








19 










20 






0.95 




21 










22 












23 












24 






.90 






25 










26 












27 












28 












29 












30 












31 
























Mean 




4.9 




6.1 





6.1 




3.0 




2.2 







NOME EIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



125 



GRAND CENTRAL DITCH. 

The Grand Central ditch was started in 1905 and more or less 
construction work has been carried on each succeeding year. The 
ditch crosses Nugget Creek a few hundred feet from its outlet and 
has diverted the waters of this stream during the greater part of the 
five seasons, 1906 to 1910. Mscellaneous measurements made of 
Nugget Creek in 1906, showing the amount diverted, are given on page 
173. A gage was established just below the creek crossing, July 9, 
1907, before the water was turned in, and was read during that season 
and in 1909. The discharge of the ditch was at times less than 1 second- 
foot in both 1908, when no regular readings were made, and in 1909. 





Discharge measurements o 


/Grand Central ditch at intake, 


1907 to 1909. 




Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


July 9 


1907. 


Feet. 
1.39 
1.28 
1.18 
1.47 


Sec.-ft. 
5.35 
3.68 
1.27 
6.64 


1908. 
July 9 


Feet. 
1.04 

0.80 
.73 


Sec.-ft. 
.71 


Do 


1909. 
July 17 




Do 


1.85 


Do 


Aug.3 


1.05 









Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Grand Central ditch, for 1907 

and 1909. 











[Observer, 


A. D. Jett] 
















1907 


1909 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


-4-3 

S 
1 


1 


1 

i 


1 


I 


s 


bo 

1 
1 

C5 


I 


1^ 
1 

1 


1 


1 
1 

1 






1 






1.34 
1.34 
1.32 
1.32 
1.32 

1.30 
1.30 
1.28 
1.28 
1.25 

1.25 
1.28 
1.27 
1.30 
1.30 

1.50 
1.50 
1.55 
1.55 
1.60 

1.60 
1.55 
1.50 
1.55 
1.50 

1.50 
1.50 
1.50 
1.55 
1.50 
1.50 


4.4 
4.4 
4.0 
4.0 
4.0 

3.6 
3.6 
3.3 
3.3 

2.8 

2.8 
3.3 
3.1 
3.6 
3.6 

8.0 
8.0 
9.3 
9.3 
10.6 

10.6 
9.3 
8.0 
9.3 
8.0 

8.0 
8.0 
8.0 
9.3 
8.0 
8.0 


1.50 
1.50 
1.45 
1.45 
1.45 

1.45 
1.45 
1.50 
1.60 
1.70 

*i.'76" 
1.70 
1.70 

1.70 
1.70 
1.70 
1.60 
1.60 

1.60 
1.55 
1.55 
1.55 
1.50 

1.50 


8.0 
8.0 
6.8 
6.8 
6.8 

6.8 
6.8 
8.0 
10.6 
13.4 





13.4 
13.4 
13.4 

13.4 
13.4 
13.4 
10.6 
10.6 

10.6 
9.3 
9.3 
9.3 
8.0 

8.0 
8.0 
8.0 
8.0 
8.0 




8 
7 
7 
6 
6 

5 
5 
4 

4 
4 

3 
3 
3 

2 f^ 


■6'72" 

".'75' 

.90 

1.00 

".'95' 
.85 

*'."85' 


1.1 

1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 

1.1 

1.2 
1.3 
3.2 
4.8 

4.6 
4.4 
4.2 
4.0 
3.2 

2.5 
2.5 
2.5 
2.5 
2.4 

2.4 
2.3 
2.3 
2.2 
2.2 

2.1 
2.1 
2.0 
1.9 
1.9 
1.8 


'6.' 78' 


1 7 


2 






1.7 


3 






1 6 


4 






1.6 


5 






1 6 


6 






1.6 


7 






1 5 


8 







1 4 


9 


1.45 
1.34 

1.34 
1.38 
1.38 
1.45 
1.35 

1.35 
1.31 
1.40 
1.46 
1.48 

1.65 
1.47 
1.48 
1.46 
1.40 

1.38 
1.36 
1.33 
1.32 
1.32 
1.34 


6.8 
4.4 

4.4 
6.2 

5.2 
6.8 
4.6 

4.6 

3.8 
5.6 
7.0 
7.5 

12.0 
7.3 
7.5 
7.0 
5.6 

6.2 
4.8 
4.2 
4.0 
4.0 
. 4.4 


1 4 


10 


1 3 


11 


1 3 


12 


1 2 


13 


1 2 


14 


1 1 


15 


2 
2 





8 
8 
8 
8 

8 
8 
7 
7 
6 

6 
5 
6 
4 
3 

9 


1 1 


16.. 


1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 


17 


18 


19 .... 


20 


21 






22 






23 




........ 


24 






25 






26 






27 




........ 


28. 




........ 


29 




........ 


30 






31 




........ 
















Mean.... 




5.7 





6.2 




9.0 





3.1 




2.3 




1.3 



Note.— The mean discharge for the period June 28 to 



>, was 9 second-feet. 



126 



SUEEAOB WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWABD PENINSULA. 



SEWARD DITCH SYSTEM. 
DESCRIPTION. 

The Seward ditch, built in 1905-6, diverts the water from Nome 
River just below Dorothy Creek at an elevation of 470 feet, and from 
Hobson Creek about half a mile below the Miocene intake. It 
extends down the west side of Nome River and around the south 
slope of Newton and Anvil peaks nearly to Anvil Creek, having a 
total length of about 37 miles. The ditch was originally planned to 
have a bottom width of 14 feet, and most of the rock work was built 
for that width. The rest of the ditch was made 10 feet wide, except 
at the lower end, where it is 8 feet. The water is carried across 
Hobson and Clara creeks by 42-inch wood-pipe siphons having lengths 
of 1,050 and 800 feet. The ditch is further described on page 257. 
Records were begun at the intake in 1907, and additional stations 
were established at several points farther down the ditch in 1909. 
A list of these stations is given on page 92. The records, especially 
those of 1909, indicate the amount of water lost by seepage from a 
ditch of this character. The data have been analyzed and are pre- 
sented on pages 263-269. 

SEWARD DITCH AT INTAKE. 

A gage was established at this point in 1906 and a few measure- 
ments were made, but the regular readings were not begun until 1907. 
The records show the amount of water diverted from Nome River 
by this ditch. Measuring conditions are good, but the channel at the 
gage is sandy and somewhat shifting, so that the relation of gage 
height to discharge has not been stable, and the records are accord- 
ingly somewhat uncertain for short periods. The maximum diver- 
sion was 34 second-feet in 1908 and the minimum for one week 9.0 
second-feet, from July 23 to 29 of the same year. 

Discharge measurements of Seward ditch at intake, 1906 to 1910. 



Date. 


Hydrographer. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1906. 
Aug. 18 
30 


F. F. Henshaw 


Feet. 
0.76 
1.03 
1.14 
L32 
1.63 
1.18 
.81 

.55 
.72 
.82 

.96 
.32 

1.00 
.89 

1.00 

.38 
.27 
.88 
.44 
.60 

L23 
1.36 
L29 


'%\ 


do.. 


37.8 


30 


do 


40.8 


30 


do 


51.4 


30 


do 


69 4 


30 


do 


43.2 


30 


do .. 


26.2 


1907. 
July 11 
18 




19.1 


... do. .. - . . 


23.2 


24 


do 


25.7 


1908. 
June 20 


Henshaw and Barrows 


31.9 


July 10 

Aug. 13 

30 


F. F. Henshaw 


9.59 


A. T. Barrows 


33.0 


F. F. Maier 


29.6 


Sept. 2 

609. 
July 16 
Aug. 2 
10 


A. T. Barrows 


34.5 


F, F, Hfinshn.w 


13.0 


do 


9.36 


do 


33.1 


Sept. 13 
22 


Q. L.Parker 


16.2 


do 


21.9 


1910. 
Sept. 15 
18 


R. G. Smith 


19.9 


G.L.Parker 


23.8 


21 


do . 


21.2 









KOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



127 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Seward ditch at intake for 

1907-1910. 



[Observers, T 


. Tallason, 1907, 1909, 1910 


; employee of Wild Goose Mining & Trading Co., 


1908.1 




Jtdy. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


•a 

•3 

C3 


1 


•a 
! 


1 


1 


1 

s 




1 

s 


t 

1 




to 

i 


1 


1907. 
1 






0.85 
.85 
.85 
.80 
.74 

.72 
.71 
.72 
.74 
.72 

.72 
.71 

.78 
.77 
.71 


27.2 
27.2 
27.2 
25.4 
23.6 

23.0 
22.8 
23.0 
23.6 
23.0 

23.0 
22.8 
24.8 
24.5 
22.8 


0.90 
.89 
.89 
.89 
.88 

.88 
.89 
.88 
.85 
.81 


29.0 
28.6 
28.6 
28.6 
28.3 

28.3 
28.6 
28.3 
27.2 
25.8 


26.2 
27.2 
26.9 
26.9 


1907. 
16 


0.70 
.70 
.70 
.75 
.75 

.75 
.75 
.75 
.75 
.80 

.82 
.82 
.88 
.82 
.85 
.85 


22.5 
22.5 
22.5 
23.8 
23.8 

23.8 
23.8 
23.8 
23.8 
25.4 

26.2 
26.2 
28.3 
26.2 
27.2 
27.2 


0.88 
.88 
.85 
.84 
.84 

.84 
.84 
.87 
.87 
.90 

.90 

.85 
.85 
.87 
.89 
.89 


28.3 
28.3 
27.2 
26.9 
26.9 

26.9 
26.9 
27.9 
27.9 
29.0 

29.0 
27.2 
27.2 
27.9 
28.6 
28.6 


0.84 

.85 
.85 
.82 
.82 

.78 
.78 
.80 
.80 
.80 

.80 
.80 
.75 

.74 
.75 


26.9 


2 






17 


27.2 


3 






18 


27.2 


4 






19 


26.2 


5.. 






20 


26.2 


6 






21 


24.8 


7. .. 






22 


24.8 


8 






23 


25.4 


9 






24 


25.4 


10 






25 


25.4 


11 


0.60 
.62 
.65 
.65 
.70 


20.1 
20.5 
21.3 
21.3 
22.5 


26 


25.4 


12 


.82 

.85 
.84 
.84 


27 


25.4 


13 


28 


23.8 


14 . 


29 


23.6 


15 


30 


23.8 




31 






Mean 










23.9 




. 26.1 




25.7 




June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1908. 
1 






0.72 
.62 
.62 
.58 
.54 

.50 
.50 
.49 
.49 
.36 

.46 
.54 
.50 
.42 
.35 

.32 
.30 
.30 
.30 
.32 

.31 
.30 
.29 
.30 
.30 

.30 
.30 
.30 
.29 
.94 
.96 


22.6 
18.9 
18.9 
17.6 
16.3 

15.0 
15.0 
14.7 
14.7 
10.7 

13.7 
16.3 
15.0 
12.4 
10.4 

9.6 
9.0 
9.0 
9.0 
9.6 

9.3 
9.0 
8.8 
9.0 
9.0 

9.0 
9.0 
9.0 
8.8 
31.5 
32.3 


0.85 
.62 
.64 
.72 
.92 

1.00 
1.00 

.88 
.75 
.74 

1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 

.95 

.88 

.86 

1.00 

1.00 

1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 

l.CO 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
.95 
1.00 


27.8 
18.9 
19.6 
22.6 
30.6 

34.0 
34.0 
29.0 
23.8 
23.4 

34.0 
34.0 
34.0 
34.0 
34.0 

31.9 
29.0 
28.2 
34.0 
34.0 

34.0 
34.0 
34.0 
34.0 
34.0 

34.0 
34.0 
34.0 
34.0 
31.9 
34.0 


1.00 

1.00 

1.00 

.92 

.85 

.88 
.81 
.80 
.77 
.70 

.68 
.70 
.70 
.60 
.75 

.72 
.59 
.52 
.54 
.52 

.56 
.55 
.50 


34 


2 






34.0 


3 






34 


4 






30.6 


6 






27 8 


6 






29 


7 






26 2 


8 






25.8 


9 






24 6 


10. . . . 






21 8 


11 






21 1 


12 






21 8 


13 






21 8 


14 






18 2 


15 






23 8 


16 






22 6 


17 






17 9 


18 






16 6 


19 






16 3 


20 


0.93 

.89 
.90 
.90 
.90 
.90 

.88 
.90 
.90 
.84 
.86 


31.1 

29.4 
29.8 
29.8 
29.8 
29.8 

29.0 
29.8 
29.8 
27.4 
28.2 


15.6 

16.9 
16.6 
15.0 


21 


22 


23 


24 


25 






26 






27 







28 






29 






30 






31 
















Mean. 






29.4 




13.6 




31 1 




a-? 1 














1 









NOTB.— The water was turned into the ditch Jtme 9, 1908. 



128 



SUKFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Seward ditch at intake for 1907- 

1910— Oontiaued. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height 


Dis- 
charge. 


hei|!ft. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1909. 
1 






0.60 
.60 
.68 
.80 
.67 

.77 
.92 
.92 
.90 
.80 

.83 
.80 
.68 
.43 
.39 

.36 
.36 
.32 
.30 
•30 

.30 
.30 
.26 
.26 
.26 

.26 

.28 


20.2 
20.2 
23.2 
28.0 
22.9 

26.8 
32.8 
32.8 
32.0 
28.0 

29.2 
28.0 
19.6 
14.4 
13.1 
12.2 
12.2 
11.1 
10.5 
10.5 

10.5 

10.5 

9.5 

9.5 

9.5 

9.5 
10.0 
10.0 
10.0 
10.8 
10.8 


0.26 
.34 

.51 
.38 
.40 

.48 
.50 
.45 

.75 
.70 

.42 
.60 
.48 
.42 
.45 

.45 
.45 
.46 
.42 
.48 

.45 
.42 
.41 
.42 
.41 

.46 
.46 
.42 
.40 
.45 
.40 


9.6 
11.7 
17.0 
12.8 
13.4 

17.6 
18.3 
16.6 
27.8 
25.8 

15.7 
18.3 
17.6 
15.7 
16.6 

16.6 
16.6 
17.0 
15.7 
17.6 

16.6 
15.7 
15.3 
15.7 
15.3 
17.0 
16.6 
15.7 
16.0 
16.6 
15.0 


0.44 
.42 
.41 
.40 
.42 

.45 
.40 
.40 
.42 
.40 

.40 
.40 
.45 
.45 

.46 

.40 
.40 
.40 
.38 
.50 
.54 
.50 
.80 
.70 
.65 
.52 
.48 
.47 


16.3 


2 






15.7 


3 






16.3 


4 






15.0 


5 






15.7 


6 






16.6 


7 . 






15.0 


8 






16.0 


9 ... 






16.7 


10 






15.0 


11 






15.0 


12 






15.0 


13.. 






16.6 


14 






16.6 


15 






17.0 


16 






15.0 


17 






15.0 


18 






15.0 


19 






14.4 


20 






18.8 


21 






19.7 


22 






18.3 


23 






29.8 


24 


0.50 
.45 
.60 
.60 
.50 
.60 
.67 


16.7 
15.0 

16.7 
16.7 
16.7 
16.7 
19.2 


26.8 


25 . 


23.8 


26 


19.0 


27 


17.6 


28 


17.2 


29 


.28 
.31 
.31 




30 






31 
















Mean 




16.8 




17.4 




16.5 




17.3 
















July. 


August 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1910. 
1 








0.0 

.0 

.0 

.0 

16.5 

21.8 
30.9 
30.9 
29.0 
30.9 

30.9 
30.1 
27.9 
29.0 
30.9 

18.0 
17.0 
30.9 
29.0 
30.9 

30.9 
30.0 
29.0 
30.9 
30.1 

30.1 
30.9 
15.0 
.0 
8.0 
28.2 


1.17 
1.15 
1.25 
1.28 
1.25 


26.0 


2 








26.3 


3 . . . 








29 


4 








30.1 


5 






6.85 

1.05 
1.30 
1.30 
1.25 
1.30 

1.30 
1.28 
1.22 
1.25 
1.30 

.93 

.90 

1.30 

1.25 

1.30 

1.30 


29 


6 






.0 


7 








.0 


8 








.0 


9 




8.0 
17.0 

21.5 
24.9 
21.8 
22.8 
23.6 

23.6 
22.8 
22.8 
23.5 
23.6 

23.5 
30.9 
34.0 
30.1 
31.7 
16.0 
.0 
.0 

:S 

.0 




.0 


10 


0.90 

1.04 
1.14 
1.05 
1.08 
1.10 

1.10 
1.08 
1.08 
1.10 
1.10 

1.10 
1.30 
1.38 
1.28 
1.32 




.0 


11 




.0 


12 




.0 


13 




.0 


14 . . 




4 




.88 

.98 
1.00 
1.06 
1.00 
1.00 


16 4 


16 


19 6 


17 


20.2 


18 


22 2 


19 


20.2 


20 


20 2 


21 


10 






3.0 


23 


1.26 
1.30 
1.28 
1.28 
1.30 




.0 


24 




.0 


25 . . . . 







26... 


.73 

.82 
.88 
.90 

.88 


12.0 


27 




14 6 


28 .... 




16 4 


29 






17.0 


80 






16.4 


81 




1.23 












Mean 




18.3 




22.5 




11.7 













Note.— The discharge for October 1, 1910, was 17.0 second-feet. 



KOME EIVEB DRAINAGE BASIN. 



129 



SEWARD DITCH BELOW HOBSON BRANCH. 

This station was maintained during 1909 and 1910. Gage heights 
were taken in the flume to the penstock of the Hobson Creek siphon, 
which is located just below the point where the Hobson Creek lateral 
enters the main ditch. Measurements were made of the main ditch 
and the branch separately, and the discharges added to give the 
total at the gage. 

The maximum recorded discharge of 42.0 second-feet, July 10, 
1909, may be too large. The minimum record of 10.7 second-feet 
occurred during the week of July 28 to August 3, 1909, but the dis- 
charge probably reached a lower stage in 1908. 

Discharge measurements of Seward ditch below Hobson branch in 1909 and 1910. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Dis- 
charge. 



Date. 



Gage 



Dis- 
charge. 



July 15. 
Aug. 1.. 
Aug. 10. 
Sept. 13. 



Feet. 
0.85 
.70 
1.07 

.78 



Sec.-ft. 
15.3 
11.2 
27.1 
13.1 



Sept. 16 a. 
Sept. 21... 



1910. 



Feet. 
1.23 
1.04 



Sec-ft, 
29.2 
21.9 



« Measurement made by R. G. Smith. 

Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Seward ditch below Hobson 

branch for 1909-10. 
[Observers, J. Sliscovitch, 1909; G. Justice, 1910.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage, 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1909. 
1 






1.00 
.85 


22.6 
16.2 
25.0 
31 

27 

30 
34 
34 
33 
30 

30 

18.2 

29.6 

18.2 

16.2 

18.2 
16.2 
16.2 
12.6 
12.6 

12.6 
12.6 
11.6 
11.6 
11.6 
11.0 
11.0 
10.4 
11.0 
11.0 
11.0 


^^» 


10.4 
10.4 
10.4 
18.2 
13.6 

11.0 
17.4 
18.2 
18.2 
27.2 

14.6 
17.4 
18.2 
16.2 
17.4 

17.4 
15.0 
14.2 
14.2 
14.2 

15.0 
14.2 
14.2 
14.2 
14.2 

14.2 
14.2 
14.2 
14.2 
14.2 
14.2 


0.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 

.80 
.80 


14.2 
14.2 
14.2 
14.2 
14.2 

14.2 
14.2 
13.9 
13.6 
14.2 

13.6 
13.6 
13.6 
15.0 
14.2 

14.2 
14.2 
14.2 
14.2 
24.9 
27.2 
27.2 
27.2 
27.2 
32.0 
27.2 
24.9 
29.6 


2 






1 


68 
68 
90 
78 
70 
88 
90 
90 
10 

81 
88 
90 

85 
88 

88 
82 
80 
80 
80 

82 
80 
80 

so" 

80 
80 
80 
80 
80 
80 


3 







4 








5 








6 








7 








8 








9 








.78 
.80 

.78 
.78 
.78 
.82 
.80 

.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 
1.05 

1.10 
1.10 
1.10 
1.10 
1.20 
1.10 
1.05 
1.15 


10 








11 








12 







.90 

1.15 

.90 

.85 

.90 

.85 
.85 
.75 
.75 

.75 
.75 
.72 
.72 
.72 

.70 

.70 
.68 
.70 
.70 
.70 


13 






14 






15 






16 






17 







18 






19 






20 






21 






22 






23 






24 


0.85 
.90 

.90 
1.10 

.90 
1.05 

.90 


16.2 
18.2 

18.2 
27.2 
18.2 
24.9 
18.2 


25 


26 


27 


28 


29 


30 






31 






Mean 




20.2 




19.2 




15.2 




18 4 













Note.— Gage heights for the period July 3-11, 1909, are doubtful. The values given are estimated from 
the discharge at the intake. 

6385X*— W8P 314—13 ^9 



130 



SURFACE WATER StTPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height ^ in fet% and discharge, in second-feet, of Seward ditch below Hobson 
branch for 1909-10— ContinxLed, 





July. 


August. 


SeptembOT. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 




Day. 


1 
1 


1 

S 


2 


1 


i 
1 


1 


1 


ft 


■4^ 

-a 
1 


s 


4^ 

•a 
1 


Q 


1910. 
1 






0.70 
.75 
.65 
.60 
.92 

1.20 
1.18 
1.25 
1.80 
1.35 

1.32 
1.38 
1.35 
1.32 
1.35 


9.0 
10.5 
7.8 
6.5 
16.3 

28.0 
27.1 
30.4 
32.7 
35.1 

33.7 
36.5 
35.1 
33.7 
35.1 


1.10 
1.22 
1.15 
1.20 
1.22 

".'to 
1.15 


23.5 
28.9 
25.8 
28.0 
28.9 

9.8 
.0 
.0 
.0 
.0 

.0 

.0 

4.5 

9.0 

25.8 


1910. 
16 


1.10 
1.15 
1.00 
1.00 
1.02 

1.00 
1.18 
1.25 
1.28 
1.32 

.80 
.65 
.65 
.65 
.62 
.68 


23.5 
25.8 
19.5 
19.5 
20.3 

19.5 
27.1 
30.4 
31.8 
33.7 

12.0 

7.8 
7.8 
7.8 
7.0 
8.5 


1.38 
1.18 
1.40 
1.40 
1.40 

1.40 
1.40 
1.40 
1.38 
1.38 

1.38 
1.40 
1.40 

".■95" 


36.6 
27.1 
37.5 
37.5 
37.6 

37.6 
37.5 
37.5 
36.5 
36.5 

36.5 
37.5 
37.5 
.0 
.0 
17.5 


1.20 
1.12 
1.22 
1.20 

1.18 

1.00 
.55 
.85 
.98 
.88 

1.00 
1.10 
1.12 
1.10 
1.10 


28.0 


2 






17 


24.4 


3 






18 


28.9 


4 






19 


28.0 


5 ... 






20 


27.1 


6 






21 


19.6 


7 






22 


6.4 


8 






23 


13.8 


9 






24 


18.7 


10 


0.95 

1.10 
1.20 
1.20 
1.10 
1.10 


17.6 

23.5 
28.0 
28.0 
23.5 
23.5 


25 


14.8 


11 


26 


19.5 


12 ... 


27 


23.5 


13 


28 


24.4 


14 . . . 


29 


23.5 


15 


30 


23.6 




31 






Mean.. 










20.3 




28.0 




16.9 



Note.— The discharge for Oct. 1, 1910, was 18.7 second-feet. 

SEWARD DITCH BELOW DEXTER CREEK FLXTME. 

This station, which was maintained during 1909 and 1910, is located 
in the flume across Dexter Creek, 15.5 miles below Hobson Creek, and 
9.7 miles above Newton Gulch. The measurements were made in the 
flume, at the lower end of which the gage was located, and the records 
are reliable. 

A maximum diversion of 30.6 second-feet was recorded August 27, 
1910, and a minimum for one week of 4.6 second-feet, which amount, 
plus leakage, represented the total supply available from Nome River 
at that time, occurred July 28 to August 3, 1909. 

Discharge measurements of Seward ditch below Dexter Creeh flume in 1909 and 1910. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Dis- 
charge. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Dis- 
charge. 



1909. 

June 10a 

July 31 

Aug. 12 

Sept. 10 



Feet. 
0.45 
.55 



Sec. feet. 

3.77 

4.99 

10.4 

9.34 



Sept. 17. 



1910. 



Feet- 
1.63 



Sec.feet. 
26.1 



a Measurement made by Munro and Lanagan. 



NOME BIVEB DEAINAGE BASIN". 



131 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Seward ditch helow Dexter Creek 

flume, for 1909-10. 

[Observer, Geo. E. Hxifl, 1909; employee of Wild Goose Mining & Trading Co., 1910.1 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


- 1909. 
1 






0.95 
.90 
.90 
.92 
.90 

.90 
.90 
.95 
1.05 
1.20 

1.15 
1.15 
1.16 
.90 

.85 

.78 
.76 
.70 
.71 
.65 

.68 
.62 
.61 
.58 
.58 

.54 
.52 
.52 

.54 


12.9 
11.8 
11.8 
12.2 
11.8 

11.8 
11.8 
12.9 
15.2 
18.8 

17.6 
17.6 
17.8 
11.8 
10.7 

9.2 

8.8 
7.6 
7.8 
6.7 

7.2 
6.2 
6.0 
5.5 
5.5 

4.8 
4.5 
4.5 
4.8 
4.9 
5.0 


0.52 
.52 
.50 

.82 
.75 

.70 

.62 
.78 
.80 
.80 

.78 
.78 
.85 
.86 
.82 

.74 
.72 
.72 
.75 
.75 

.75 
.75 

.78 
.78 
.75 

.72 
.80 
.82 
.82 
.80 
.80 


4.5 
4.5 
4.2 
10.0 
8.6 

7.6 
6.2 
9.2 
9.6 
9.6 

9.2 
9.2 
10.7 
10.9 
10.0 

8.4 
8.0 
8.0 
8.6 
8.6 

8.6 
8.6 
9.2 
9.2 
8.6 

8.0 
9.6 
10.0 
10.0 
9.6 
9.6 


0.78 

.78 
.75 
.75 
.82 

78 
.75 


9.2 


2 






9.2 


3 






8.6 


4 






8.6 


5. 






10.0 


6 






9.2 


7 






8.6 


g 






8.1 


9 . ... 






.70 

.78 

.78 
.75 
.75 
.78 
.78 

.80 
.90 
.85 
.92 
.88 

1.10 
1.20 
1.22 
L28 
L28 

1.10 
1.10 


7.6 


10 


0.50 


4.2 

3.9 
3.6 
3.0 
3.0 
1.4 

1.0 
6.7 
6.7 
6.7 
6.7 

9.6 
12.9 
11.8 

9.6 
11.8 

11.8 
10.7 
23.8 
9.6 
9.6 


9.2 


11 


9.2 


12 


.45 
.40 
.40 
.25 

.20 
.65 
.65 
.65 
.65 

.80 
.95 
.90 
.80 
.90 

.90 
.85 
1.40 
.80 
.80 


8.6 


13 ... 


8.6 


14 


9.2 


15 . 


9.2 


16 


9.6 


17 . 


11.8 


18 


10.7 


19 . . 


12.2 


20 


11.4 


21 


16.4 


22 


18.8 


23 


19.3 


24 _ 

25 


20.8 
20.8 


26 


16.4 


27 


16.4 


28 




29 _.. 






30 






31 


.55 
















Mean 




8.00 




9.85 




8.60 




11.8 















132 



SUKFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily gagt height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Seward ditch below Dexter Creek 
flume for 1909-10 — Continued. 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
heigk. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1910. 
1 






1.22 
1.40 
1.20 
1.15 
1.05 

1.35 
1.32 
1.35 
1.52 
1.45 

1.45 
1.48 
1.52 
1.55 
1.60 

1.68 
1.45 
1.45 
1.62 
1.68 

1.70 
1.72 
1.62 
1.75 
1.72 

1.75 
1.80 


16.3 
20.5 
15.8 
14.8 
12.6 

19.3 
18.6 
19.3 
23.5 
21.8 

21.8 
22.5 
23.6 
24.2 
25.5 

25.0 
21.8 
21.8 
26.0 
27.5 

28.0 
28.5 
26.0 
29.3 
28.5 

29.3 
30.6 
.0 
.0 
.0 
.0 




0.0 


2 








.0 


3 






1.45 
1.55 
1.55 


21.8 


4 






24.2 


5 







24.2 


6 







26.0 


7 








19.0 


8 








19.0 


9 








12.0 


10 . . 




0.60 

1.20 
1.20 
1.28 
1.22 
1.30 

1.30 
1.40 
1.35 
1.32 
1.32 


4.8 

15.8 
15.8 
17.6 
16.3 
18.1 

18.1 
20.6 
19.3 
18.6 
18.6 

19.0 
18.1 
20.5 
23.0 
23.0 

24.2 
13.7 
16.3 
15.8 
17.0 
13.7 




21.0 


11 




17.0 


12 




17.0 


13 




14.0 


14 




21.0 


15 


1.45 

1.50 
1.50 
1.45 
1.60 
1.70 

1.66 
1.36 
1.60 
1.60 

1.62 

1.60 
1.55 
1.65 
1.66 
1.65 


21.8 


16 


23.0 


17 


23.0 


18 


21.8 


19 


25.5 


20 


28.0 


21 


26.8 


22 


1.30 
1.40 
1.50 
1.50 

1.55 
1.10 
1.22 
1.20 
1.25 
1.10 


19.3 


23 


25.5 


24 


25.5 


25 


26.0 


26 


25.5 


27 


24.2 


28 


26.8 


29 




26.8 


30 




26.8 


31 














Mean 




17.6 




20.1 




21.0 













Note.— The discharge for Oct. 1, 1910, was 26.8 second-feet. 



SEWARD DITCH ABOVE NEWTON GXJLCH. 

This is the lowest regular station on the Seward ditch. The 
records here give the amount of water delivered to the mining oper- 
ations on Newton Gulch and at points below. The gage was estab- 
lished a few hundred feet above the penstock of the pipe leading 
to the mine early in the spring of 1909 and records were kept during 
that year and in 1910. The ditch was practically dry near the 
end of July, 1909. The maximum amount delivered, as shown by 
the records, was 25.2 second-feet on September 8, 1910. 



NOME KIVEB DRAINAGE BASIN. 133 

Discharge measurements of Seward ditch above Newton Gulch in 1909 and 1910. 



Date. 


Hydrographer. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1909. 


Lanagan and Shutts 


Feet. 

1.00 
.36 

1.18 
.82 
.76 

1.07 
1.38 
1.35 


Sec-ft. 
8.36 


July 30 

Aug. 10 

12 


F. F.TSenshaw 


.26 


Ayftr and Smith 


1L9 


F. F. Henshaw 


5.80 


Sept. 10 

1910. 
July 23 
Aug. 26 
Sept. 16 


Q. L. Parker. ... . 


3.87 


■W". TT. Ti?majjan , .,. 


13.9 


Smith and Jarvis ., 


22.7 


G.L.Parker 


22. Z 







Daily gag" height, in feet, and discharge, in secondfeet, of Seward ditch above Newton 

Gulch for 1909 and 1910. 

[Observers, N. Bell, 1909; employee of Wild Goose Mining & Trading Co., 1910.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1909. 
I 






1.01 
1.01 
1.02 
1.02 
1.02 

1.02 
1.02 
1.16 
1.24 
1.29 

1.39 
1.21 
1.26 
1.08 
.98 

.91 
.89 
.84 
.76 
.68 

.64 
.64 
.64 
.60 
.54 

.60 
.49 
.52 
.42 
.28 
.32 


8.7 
8.7 
8.9 
8.9 
8.9 

8., 

8.9 
11.4 
13.0 
14.0 

16.1 
12.4 
13.4 
9.9 
8.2 

6.9 
6.6 
5.7 
4.4 
3.2 

2.7 
2.7 
2.7 
2.2 
1.6 

1.2 
1.1 
1.4 
.6 
.1 
.1 


0.59 
.38 
.69 
.91 
.85 

.72 
.69 
.85 
.88 
1.18 

1.15 
.84 
.90 
.88 
.79 

.78 
.76 
.71 
.72 
.70 

.75 
.65 
.61 
.78 
.64 

.72 
.78 
.80 
.88 


2.1 
.4 
3.4 
6.9 
5.8 

3.8 
3.4 

6.8 
6.4 
11.8 

11.2 
6.9 
6.7 
6.4 
4.8 

4.7 
4.4 
3.6 
3.8 
3.5 

4.2 
2.8 
2.3 
4.7 
2.7 

3.8 
4.7 
5.0 
6.4 
5.8 
5.2 


0.81 
.81 
.79 
.68 
.65 

.66 

.64 
.64 
.62 
.70 

.79 
.76 
.75 
.81 
.80 

.79 
.89 
.82 
.78 
.92 

1.10 
1.24 
1.26 
1.34 
1.35 

1.12 
1.24 


5.2 


2 






5,2 


3 






4.8 


4 






3.2 


6 






2.8 


6 






3.0 


7 






2.7 


8 






2.7 


9 






2.5 


10 






3.6 


11 






4.8 


12 






4.4 


13 






4.2 


14 






5.2 


15 






6.0 


16 






4.8 


17 






6.6 


18 






6.3 


19 






4.7 


20 






7.1 


21 






10.3 


22 






13.0 


23 






13.4 


24 


1.00 
1.00 

1.01 
1.04 
1.12 
1.21 
1.01 


8.5 
8.5 

8.7 
9.2 
10.7 
12.4 
8.7 


15.0 


25 


15.2 


26 


10 7 


27 


13.0 


28 




29 






30 






31 


.81 
















Mean 




9.53 




6.56 




4.91 




6 60 















134 



SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second^eet, of Seward ditch above Newton 
Gulch for 1909 and i WO— Continued. 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


i 


1 

5 


1 


1 


1 


s 


t 

s 

1 


1 


o 


1 

ft 


4^ 

•a 

1 
1 


n 


1910. 
1 






0.88 
.95 
.92 
.85 
.80 

1.10 
1.00 
1.05 
1.18 
1.10 

1.10 
1.10 
1.15 
1.20 
1.25 


9.7 
11.2 
10.6 
9.0 
8.0 

14.9 
12.4 
13.6 
17.1 
14.9 

14.9 
14.9 
16.2 
17.6 
19.0 


'i."25' 
1.29 

1.38 
1.05 
1.45 
1.19 
1.23 

1.29 
1.15 
1.00 
1.08 
1.28 


4.0 
2.7 
2.7 
19.0 
20.2 

23.0 
13.6 
25.2 
17.3 
18.5 

20.2 
16.2 
12.4 
14.4 
19.9 


1910. 
16 


■ 




1.25 
1.25 
1.22 
1.25 
1.25 

1.30 
1.30 
1.28 
1.32 
1.32 

1.38 
1.39 


19.0 
19.0 
18.2 
19.0 
19.0 

20.5 
20.5 
19.9 
21.1 
21.1 

23.0 

23.3 

4.0 

.0 

.0 

.0 


1.35 
1.32 
1.39 
1.40 
1.38 

1.38 
1.10 
1.39 
1.28 
1.30 

1.28 
1.35 
1.34 
1.35 
1.36 


22.0 


2 






17 






21.1 


3 






18 






23.3 


4. 






19 






23.6 


5 






20 






23.0 


6 






21 






23.0 


7 






22 






14.9 


8 






23 






23.3 


9 






24 


1.05 
1.18 

1.20 

.85 

1.10 

1.18 

.98 

.90 


13.6 
17.1 

17.6 
9.0 
14.9 
17.1 
11.9 
10.1 


19.9 


10 







25 


20.5 


11 






1 

! 26 


19 9 


12 






27 


22.0 


13 ... . 






28 


21.7 


14 






29 


22.0 


15 






30 


22.4 








31 






Mean. 










13.9 




14.6 




18.4 











Note.— The discharge for October 1, 1910, was 11.0 second-feet. 



HOBSON BRANCH OF SEWARD DITCH. 



This station, which was maintained regularly only during 1909, 
was located near the outlet of the lateral and shows the amount of 
Hobson Creek water which the Seward ditch receives. 

Additional measurements are given in connection with the dis- 
charge of Hobson Creek below Manila Creek, on page 105. 

The maximum recorded diversion, 9.3 second-feet, which repre- 
sents practically the capacity of the ditch, occurred just after the 
water was turned out of the Miocene ditch in the fall of 1909, when 
the total flow of Hobson Creek was diverted into the Seward ditch. 
The minimum of 2.5 second-feet occurred just before this. 

Discharge measurements of Hobson branch of Seward ditch in 1909 and 1910, 



Date. 



1909. 

July 15 , 

Aug. 1 

Aug. 10 

Sept. 14 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 

0.68 

.56 

.60 

.50 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
5.23 
3.13 
3.80 
2.52 



Date. 



Sept. 16 a. 



1910. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.02 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
9.52 



• Msasuremoat mado by B. Q. SmiOu 



NOMB BIVBE DEAINAGfi BASIN, 



135 



Daily gage height, infect, and discharge, in second-feet, of Hobson branch of Seward ditch 

for 1909. 

[Observer, U. Sliscovitch.) 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 








5.0 
4.6 
6.5 
7.4 
7.4 

7.4 
6.5 
5.5 
6.5 
6.5 

5.5 
5.5 
5.5 
5.5 
5.5 

6.5 
5.2 
5.2 
5.2 
5.2 

4.1 
4.1 
4.1 
3.8 
3.8 

3.8 
3.8 
3.8 
3.8 
3.5 
3.2 


0.55 
.55 
.55 
.60 
.65 

.55 
.55 
.60 
.55 
.60 

.68 

.58 
.60 
.58 
.55 

.55 
.55 
.65 
.55 
.55 

.65 
.55 
.65 


3.2 
3.2 
3.2 
3.8 
3.2 

3.2 
3.2 
3.8 
3.2 
3.8 

3.5 
3.5 
3.8 
3.5 
3.2 

3.2 
3.2 
3.2 
3.2 
3.2 

3.2 
3.2 
3.2 
3.0 
2.8 

3.2 
3.2 
3.2 
3.2 
3.2 
3.2 


0.55 
.55 
.50 
.50 
.60 

.50 
.50 


3.2 


2 






0.65 
.70 
.80 
.80 

.80 
.70 
.70 
.70 
.70 

.70 


3.2 


3 






2.5 


4 






2.5 


5 






2.5 


6 






2,5 


7 






2.5 


8 






2.5 


9 






.50 
.50 

.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 

.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.90 

.90 
.85 
.86 
.88 
.85 

.88 
.88 
.88 


2.5 


10 






2.5 


11 






2.5 


12 






2.5 


13 






.70 


2.5 


14 






2.5 


15 








2.6 


16 






.70 
.68 
.68 
.68 
.68 

.62 
.62 
.62 
.60 
.60 

.60 

.60 
.60 
.60 
.58 
.55 


2.5 


17 






2.5 


18 






2.5 


19 






2.5 


20 






9.3 


21 






9.3 


22 






8.4 


23 






8.4 


24 


0.70 
.70 

.70 
.70 
.70 
.80 
.70 


5.5 
5.5 

5.5 
5.6 
6.6 
7.4 
5.5 


8.9 


26 


.62 

.55 
.55 
.55 
.55 
.55 
.65 


8.4 


26 


8.9 


27 


8.9 


28 


8.9 


29 




30 






31 
















Mean 




5.77 




5.00 




3.18 




4.68 















PIONEER DITCH SYSTEM. 



DESCRIPTION. 



The Pioneer ditch, begun in 1905 and completed in 1907, has its 
intake on Nome River just below the mouth of Christian Creek, about 
3 miles below the Seward intake, at an elevation of about 330 feet. 
It has a total length of 38 miles and extends to Anvil Creek. There 
are three siphons, composed of two lines of 30-inch riveted steel 
pipes — one 545 feet long across Hobson Creek, one 1,050 feet long 
across Banner Creek, and one 755 feet long across Dexter Creek. 
Several narrow gulches and gullies eroded by waste water from the 
other ditches are crossed by flumes. 

PIONEEB DITCH AT INTAKE. 

A station was established at the intake of the ditch in 1907, and a 
record of 11 days was obtained in that year. For the three seasons 
1908 to 1910 the records have been practically complete. The gage 
is located a short distance below the intake and measurements are 
made near this point. The tables given below show the total amount 
of Nome River water diverted into the ditch, and, in conjunction with 



136 



StTKB-AOE WA'PEB StTPPLY OF SEWABD PENIKSITLA. 



the record oil Nome River below the intake and on Miocene and 
Seward ditches, give the natural flow of the river. The maximiim 
recorded diversion was 38.1 second-feet on August 12, 1908. The 
minimum for a week was 7 second-feet during July 23 to 29 of the 
same year. 

Discharge measurements of Pioneer ditch at intake^ 1907 to 1910. 



Date. 



1907. 

July 18 

July 24 , 

Aug. 9 

Aug. 20 

Aug. 29 

1908. 

July 10 a 

Aug. 30 o 



Gage 


Dis- 


heiglit. 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


1.22 


18.7 


1.35 


22.2 


1.19 


16.8 


1.41 


24.3 


1.44 


25.6 


.83 


8.78 


1.30 


24.5 



Date. 



1909. 

June 15 

Do 

July 16 

Aug. 2 

Aug. 10 

1910. 
Sept. 18 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 

0.21 
.87 
.86 
.60 

1.02 



.74 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
3.34 
5 22,9 
21.1 
11.8 
29.3 



14.4 



• Measurement made by F. F. MUler. ^Measurement made during a rise in stage of 0.16 foot. 

Daily gage height, infect, and discharge, in second-feet, of Pioneer ditch at intake for 

1907-1910. 

[Observers, employees of Pioneer Mining Co., 1907-8; Chris. Johnson, 1909; C. Chanceberg, 1910.] 









1908. 


Day. 




July. 


August. 


September. 




Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage Dis- 
height. charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dls- 
charge. 


1 ,. 








17.0 
16.0 
15.0 
14.0 
13.4 

12.5 
12.5 
12.5 
11.6 
11.3 

n.o 

11.0 
9.5 
8.3 
7.8 

8.0 
8.0 
7.6 
8.0 
8.6 

8.3 
7.6 
7.0 
7.0 
7.0 

7.0 
7.0 
7.0 
7.0 

27.7 
29.3 


1.20 
1.01 
1.00 
1.28 
1.62 

1.48 
1.45 
1.28 
1.16 
1.12 

1.36 
1.64 
1.55 
1.50 
1.60 

1.41 
1.40 
1.29 
1.55 
1.60 

1.38 
1.32 
1.62 
1.52 
1.50 

1.60 
1.52 
1.41 
1.36 
1.32 
1.56 


20.5 
14.3 
14.0 
23.7 
33.3 

31.7 
30.5 
23.7 
18.8 
17.7 

26.9 
38.1 
34.5 
32.5 
32.6 

28.9 
28.6 
24.1 
34.5 
32.5 

27.7 
25.3 
33.3 
33.3 
32.5 

32.5 
33.3 
28.9 
26.9 
25.3 
34.9 


1.52 
1.54 
1.45 
1.36 
1.31 

1.29 
1.25 
1.21 
1.20 
1.18 

1.16 
1.16 
1.16 
1.15 
1.12 

1.12 
1.09 
1.05 
1.04 
1.00 

.95 


33.3 


2 








34 1 


3 








30.5 


4 






1.00 
.98 

.95 

.95 
.95 
.92 
.91 

.90 
.90 

.85 
.81 
.79 

.80 
.80 
.78 
.80 
.82 

.81 
.78 
.75 
.75 
.75 

.75 
.75 
.75 
.75 
1.38 
1.42 


26.9 


5 






24.9 


6 






24.1 


7 






22.5 


8 






20.9 


9 






20.5 


10 






19.8 


11 






18.8 


12 






18.8 


13 






19.1 


14 






18.8 


16 






17.7 


16 






17.7 


17 






16.7 


18 






15.5 


19 






15.2 


20 






14.0 


21 


1.43 
1.40 
1.42 
1.42 
1.48 

1.48 
1.40 
1.38 
1.30 
1.39 
1.36 


25.0 
24.0 
24.7 
24.7 
26.8 

26.8 
24.0 
23.4 
20.8 
23.7 
22.7 


12.5 


22 




23 






24 






25 






26 






27 . . . ^. . .. 






28 






29 






30 






31 












Mean 




24.2 




11.1 




28.2 




21.1 















NOME RIVEE DRAINAGE BASIN. 



137 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Pioneer ditch at intake for 

1907-1910— Continued. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1909. 
1 






0.82 
.90 

1.00 
.98 
.95 

.99 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 

.98 

1.00 
.95 
.99 
.92 
.86 

.87 
.82 
.80 
.80 
.78 

.76 

.74 
.71 
.69 
.65 

.65 
.64 
.64 
.62 
.62 
.74 


20.2 
23.2 
27.0 
26.2 
25.1 

26.6 
27.0 
27.0 
27.0 
26.2 

27.0 
25.1 
26.6 
24.0 
21.7 

22.1 
20.2 
19.5 
19.5 
18.8 

18.1 
17.4 
16.4 
15.7 
14.4 

14.4 
14.0 
14.0 
13.4 
13.4 
17.4 


0.60 
.60 
.66 
.71 
.60 

.59 
.56 
.60 
.90 
.92 

.68 
.67 
.72 
.70 
.70 

.68 
.67 
.64 
.64 
.62 

.62 
.62 
.60 
.60 
.60 

.59 
.60 
.56 
.56 

.54 
.52 


12.7 
12.7 
14.7 
16.4 
12.7 

12.4 
11.5 

12.7 
23.2 
24.0 

15.3 
15.0 
16.7 
16.0 
16.0 

15.3 
15.0 
14.0 
14.0 
13.4 

13.4 
13.4 

12.7 
12.7 
12.7 

12.4 
12.7 
11.5 
11.5 
10.9 
10.3 


0.52 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.51 

.51 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 

.50 
.49 
.50 
.56 
.50 

.57 
.50 
.60 
.50 
.49 

.55 
.60 

.58 
.92 
.69 

.62 
.65 
.60 


10.3 


2 







9.7 


3 






9.7 


4 






9.7 


5 






10.0 


6 . 






10.0 


7 






9.7 


8 






9.7 


9 






9.7 


10 






9.7 


11 






9.7 


12 






9.4 


13 






9.7 


14 






11.5 


15 






9.7 


16 






11.8 


17 . 






9.7 


18 






9.7 


19 






9.7 


20 






9.4 


21 


0.54 
.64 
.60 
.97 

.87 

.72 
.76 
.95 
.95 
.96 


10.9 
14.0 
12.7 
25.9 
22.1 

16.7 
18.1 
25.1 
25.1 
25.6 


11.2 


22 


12.7 


23 


12.1 


24 


24.0 


25 


15.7 


26 


13.4 


27 


14.4 


28 


12.7 


29 




30 






31 
















Mean 




19.6 




20.9 




14.1 




11.2 

















July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


2 


1 


4i 

1 


1 


1 

1 


1 


1 


ft 


! 


1 


1 


S 


1910. 
1 






0.72 

.72 
.72 
.75 
.75 

.75 
.72 
.72 
.75 
.80 

.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 

.80 
.70 
.80 
.80 

.78 


13.5 
13.5 
13.5 
14.4 
14.4 

14.4 
13.5 
13.5 
14.4 
16.0 

16.0 
16.0 
16.0 
16.0 
16.0 

16.0 
12.9 
16.0 
16.0 
15,4 


0.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 

.70 

.60 
.70 
.75 
.75 
.75 


16.0 
16.0 
16.0 
16.0 
16.0 

12.9 

8.0 

.0 

.0 

.0 

.0 
.0 
.0 
.0 
.0 

10.0 
12.9 

14.4 
14.4 
14.4 


1910. 
21. .. 


0.65 

.70 
.70 
.90 
.90 

.90 
.90 
.90 
.70 
.70 
.72 


11.4 
12.9 
12.9 
19.2 
19.2 

19.2 
19.2 
19.2 
12.9 
12.9 
13.5 


0.80 

.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 

.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 


16,0 
16.0 
16.0 
16.0 
16.0 

16.0 
16.0 
16.0 
16.0 
16.0 
16.0 


0.78 

.58 

"■."55" 
.60 

.75 
.75 
.75 
.75 
.75 


15 4 


2 .. 






22 


9 5 


3 






23 





4 .... 






24 


8 7 


5 






25 


10 


6 






26 


14.4 


7 






27 


14 4 


8 






28 


14 4 


9 




5.0 
10.0 

10.0 
10.0 
10.0 
10.0 
11.4 

12.9 
14.4 
12.9 
13.5 
11.4 


29 


14 4 


10 


0.60 

.60 
.60 
.60 
.60 
.65 

.70 
.75 
.70 
.72 
.65 


30 


14.4 




31 




11 


Mean.. 






12 




13.2 




15.3 




9 4 


13 




14 




15 




16 




17 




18 




19 




20 









Note.— The mean aischarge for Oct. 1-2, 1910, was 14.4 second-feet. 



138 



SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OP SEWAED PENINSULA. 



MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 

The following lists give the results of miscellaneous measurements 
of streams and ditches in the Nome River drainage basin: 

Miscellaneous measurements in Nomne River drainage basin, 1906 to 1909. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to— 


Locahty. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


Dis- 
charge 

per 
square 
mile. 


July 16,1909 

Aug. 3,1909 
June 17,1906 

Aug. 2, 1909 


Nome River 

do 

-do. 


Bering Sea 

do 

do ... 


Above Miocene in- 
take. 
do 

i mile above Doro- 
thy Creek. 

Below Seward ia- 
take, seepage 
through dam only. 

Below H b s n 
Creek, not includ- 
ing ditches. 

In canyon, above 
Hudson Creek. 

do 

do .... 


Feet. 
575 

575 
450 

408 
184 

760 

700 
700 
590 

590 
425 

425 
425 
410 
500 

380 
410 


Sec.-ft. 
36 

9.4 
39 

3.3 

78 

18.1 

23 
9.1 

7.4 

21 
5.1 

3.0 
2.9 
4.5 
3.3 

2.1 
1.4 




Sec.-ft. 
2.40 

.63 
1.66 


do 

do 

Buffalo Creek.-.. 

do 

do 


do 

do 

Nome River... 

do 

do 




Aug. 12,1908 

June 28,1906 

Jiily 6,1906' 
Aug. 3,1906 
July 29,1906 

June 20,1908 
June 16,1906 

July 29,1906 
Aug. 18,1906 
Aug. 2,1909 
Sept. 14,1909 

Aug. 2,1909 
Sept. 14,1909 


56 

4.4 

4.4 
4.4 
4.3 

4.3 

2.8 

2.8 
2.8 
4.4 
4.4 

2.1 
2.1 


4.11 

5.23 
2.07 


David Creek 


.do 


Above Miocene in- 
take, 
do . .. 


1.72 


.do 


do 


4.88 


Dorothy Creek... 


.do 


Above Campion 
ditch spillway, 
near mouth. 

.. .do 


1.82 


do 


... .do 


1.07 


.do. 


do 


do .... 


1.04 


Alfield Creek 


... .do 


i mile above mouth. 

1 mile above mouth, 

including ditch. 

Above railroad 

do . 


1.02 


do 

Christian Creek.. 
.. .do. 


do 

do 

do 


.75 

1.00 
.67 











Miscellaneous measurements of Miocene ditch and laterals in 1906 and 1909. 



Date. 


Ditch. 


Point of measurement. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Aug. 23,1906 
Sept. 25,1906 
Aug. 30,1907 
Aug. 16,1908 
Aug. 13,1908 
Aug. 15,1908 
Sept. 1,1908 
Aug. 30,1908 
July 20,1908 
Aug. 11,1909 
Aug. 12,1909 
Sept. 11,1909 
June 28,1906 
July 12,1906 
Aug. 11,1906 
Aug. 29,1906 
Sept. 2,1906 
Sept. 7,1906 
Sept. 14,1906 
Aug. 31,1906 
July 17,1909 
July 21,1906 
Aug. 11,1906 
Aug. 29,1906 
Aug. 31,1906 


Main ditr^h 


Above Dorothy Creek siphon 


Feet. 


'"t. 


do 


do 




41.4 


do .... 


.do 




40.9 


do 


do 




40.2 


.. .do ... . 






38.4 


do ... 


do. . 




37.3 


do 






31.4 


do 


Above the " X " 




43.3 


Glacier branch 


Above Snow Gulch 





31.9 






1.00 


11.4 


do 

do 

Grand Central ditcb... 


do 

do 


.85 
.51 


10.0 
3.1 
.96 


do. . 


do 




6.8 


do 


.do 




3.0 


do 

do 


do 

.. ..do 




8.6 
6.8 


. . .do 


.do 




6.1 


do .. 


do 




4.4 


Jett Creek ditch 






8.3 


.do .. ,. 


do 




1.3 


do 

... .do 


Outlet 




2.4 


.do 




.8 


do 


do 




4.6 


do 


do 




7.3 


Sept. 2,1906 
Sept. 7,1906 
Sept. 10,1906 
Sept. 14,1906 
July 31,1907 
July 17,1909 
July 2,1907 
Sept. 28,1907 


do 






9.2 


.do 


do 




7.2 


do 


.do 




5.3 


. .do 


do .. . - 




3.9 


Copper Creek ditch. . 


Junction with Jett Creek ditch . 




3.5 


do 


.do 




1.2 


Grouse Creek ditch 


Near outlet 




11.7 


do 


do 




5.8 


Aug. 31,1908 
July 15,1909 
Aug. 30,1908 


.. .do 


.. .do 




4.8 


do 


do . 




2.5 


Upper Glacier Creek feeder . . . 







2.3 









Note.— For other miscellaneous measurements of Miocene ditch, see list of seepage measurements on p. 267. 



SNAKE KIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



139 



Simultaneous discharge measurements of both branches of Miocene ditch below the "X," 

1907 to 1909. 



Date. 


Glacier 
branch. 


Dexter 
branch. 


Total. 


Date. 


Glacier 
branch. 


Dexter 
branch. 


Total. 


June 26, 1907 

July 6, 1907 

July 19, 1907 

Sept. 4, 1907 

July 11, 1908 


27.6 

31.5 

34.3 

5.5 


Sec.-ft. 

0.0 
16.0 
14.0 
13.0 

4.2 


Sec.-ft. 

8.8 
43.6 
45.5 
47.3 

9.7 


Aug. 30, 1908 

July 14, 1909 

July 31, 1909 

Aug. 11, 1909 


Sec.-ft. 

26.8 

26.6 

2.7 

18.8 


Sec.-ft. 
16.1 
13.0 
6.8 
12.8 


Sec.-ft. 

42.9 

39.6 

9.5 

31.6 



Miscellaneous measurements of Seward ditch, 1908-9. 



Date. 


Point of measurement. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Aug. 30,1908 


Above Clara Creek siphon 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
24.9 


Sept. 2,1908 
Do... 


do 




30.4 


Below Hobson Branch ..... 




33.1 


June 10,1909 




0.40 
1.18 
.88 
1.12 
1.72 
1.09 
1.03 


.6 


July 14,1909 


... .do 


14.4 


July 31,1909 


do 


7.6 


Aug. 11,1909 


do 


13.2 


Sept. 17, 1910 
Aug. 12,1909 


.do 


26.1 


Extra Dry Creek 


9.5 


Sept. 10,1909 


do. . . .. 


8.3 


Aug. 12,1909 


Lost Creek 


7.8 


June 4, 1909 


Below Dry Creek 


1.20 
.75 


16.0 


June 6,1909 


.. .do. 


6.1 







Miscellaneous measurements of Pioneer ditch and lateral in 1909 and 1910. 



Date. 


Point of measurement. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Aug. 1, 1909 


Above Hobson Branch 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
11.0 


Aug. 12,1900 


Extra Dry Creek 


0.70 
.48 

L17 
.70 
.71 
.60 

L07 


11.8 


Sept. 10, 1909 
July 14,1909 


.. .do 


7.4 


Little Creek 


20.7 


July 30,1909 


do . 


6.5 


Do 


.do 


6.3 


Sept. 10, 1909 


do 


4.2 


Sept. 16, 1910 
July 15,1909 


... .do. 


23.5 


Hobson branch at outlet 


4.3 


Aug. 1, 1909 


do 




2.3 


Aug. 10,1909 


. .do 




1.7 


Sept. 12, 1909 


do 




.85 











SNAKE RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



DESCRIPTION. 

Snake River drains an area of 110 square miles, largely within the 
upland area, and empties into Bering Sea at Nome. The river is not 
important in point of water supply, but its lower basin contains 
some important gold placers, notably those of Glacier, Anvil, and 
Little creeks. Oth®r tributaries, of less interest economically, are 
North Fork, Bangor, Boulder, and Sunset creeks from the west and 
Grouse Creek from the east. The main stream above Grouse Creek 
is called Goldbottom Creek. Some mining has been done on several 



140 



SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



of the upper tributaries, as well as on the streams nearer Nome. 
Ditches have been built to divert water for hydraulicking from 
North Fork, Bangor, Divining, Twin Mountain, and Glacier creeks. 
One gaging station was maintained on Snake River above Glacier 
Creek in 1907. 

SNAKE RIVER ABOVE GLACIER CREEK. 

This station was established June 25, 1907, just above the mouth 
of Glacier Creek, to determine the discharge of Snake River and the 
relation of the run-off from its drainage basin to that from areas in 
and near the Kigluaik Mountains. 

The station is located at an elevation of only about 40 feet. A 
large quantity of water is ordinarily diverted into Glacier Creek by 
the Miocene ditch and enters Snake River just below the station. 
Except for a small amount carried over the divide at the Miocene 
flume from Grouse and Cold creeks, the discharge at the measuring 
point is unaffected by diversion. 

Unfortunately these records were obtained during a year of high 
water, so that they are not well adapted for making comparisons. A 
lower discharge was shown by a measurement made July 12, 1908, 
and comparison with records on Nome River indicates that the 
minimum later in the month was not far from 25 second-feet. 

Discharge measurements of Snake River above Glacier Creek in 1907 and 1908. 

[Elevation, 40 feet.] 



Date. 



1907, 

June 26 

Julys 

July 20 

Aug. 10 

Sept.3 



Gage 
hei^t. 


Dis- 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


1.88 


527 


1.20 


168 


1.13 


147 


0.89 


72.2 


1.01 


112 



Date. 



June 18. 
July 12. 



1908. 



Gage 
heigat. 



Feet. 
0.85 
.45 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
132 
45. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Snake River above Glacier Creek 

for 1907. 



[Drainage area, 


69 square miles. 


Observer, A. H 


Clambey.] 








June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Dat€. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 






1.35 
1.30 
1.25 
1.18 
1.22 

1.32 
1.50 
1.35 
1.25 
1.25 


235 
212 
191 
163 
178 

221 
308 
235 
191 
191 


1.05 
1.02 
1.00 
1.00 
.96 

.95 
.96 
.94 
.92 
.92 


120 
111 
105 
105 
94 

91 
94 
89 
83 
83 


1.08 
1.05 
1.05 
1.05 
1.04 

1.03 
1.02 
1.08 
1.08 
1.16 


129 


2 






120 


3 






120 


4 






120 


6 






117 


6 






114 


7 






111 


8 






129 


9 






129 


10 






162 



PENNY RIVEE DRAINAGE BASIN. 



141 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Snake River above Glacier Creeh 

for if 907— Continued. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


11 






1.28 
1.25 
1.20 
1.20 
1.18 

1.10 
1.12 
1.10 
1.18 
1.18 

1.20 
1.18 
1.16 
1.22 
1.30 

1.22 
1.18 
1.12 
1.08 
1.08 
1.05 


204 
191 
170 
170 
163 

135 
142 
136 
163 
163 

170 
163 
156 
178 
212 

178 
163 
142 
129 
129 
120 


0.91 
.90 
.98 
.97 
.90 

1.04 
1.10 
1.10 
1.05 
1.00 

1.05 
1.01 
.99 
1.00 
1.02 

1.08 
1.10 
1.10 
1.10 
1.10 
1.08 


80 

77 
99 

97 

77 

117 
135 
135 
120 
105 

120 
108 
102 
105 
111 

129 
135 
135 
135 
135 
129 


1.90 
1.68 
1.52 
1.47 
1.50 


540 


12 






408 


13 






319 


14 






293 


15 






308 


16 








17 










18 










19 










20 










21 










22 










23 










24 










25 


1.90 

1.85 
1.80 
1.55 
1.45 
1.40 


540 

510 
480 
335 
283 
258 






26 






27 






28 






29 






30 






31 . . . . 
















Mean 




401 
5.81 

1.30 




177 
2.56 

2.95 




108 
1.56 

1.80 




207 






3.00 


Run-off, depth in mches on drainage 
area 




1.67 









PENNY RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



DESCRIPTION. 

Penny River rises about 18 miles back from the seacoast and 
empties into Bering Sea about 10 miles west of Nome. Its drainage 
basin lies between the Snake and Cripple river basins and has a total 
area of 36 square miles. The Penny basin, which reaches a maximum 
elevation of about 2,000 feet, is relatively long and narrow, most of the 
tributaries, except Willow Creek, being short and steep. 

A small amount of mining has been carried on along the lower 
river. The Sutton ditch diverts water from the river at a point about 
half a mile above the mouth of Willlow Creek, to the second beach 
line, about 3 miles east of the mouth of Penny River, near Jess Creek. 

Two other ditches have been begun, one having its intake about 7 
miles above the Sutton intake and the other just below. 

PENNY RIVER AND SUTTON DITCH AT INTAKE. 

Gaging stations were maintained on the river and ditch during the 
mining season of 1907. One measurement on each was made in 1906. 

The gages were located just below the dam and were read by 
employees of the United Ditch Co. Some shifting took place at both 
points, and no measurements were obtained at high stages on the 
river, but the data are accnrate enough for ordinary comparisons. 



142 



SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Discharge measurements of Penny River and Sutton ditch at intake, in 1906 and 1907, 

[Elevation, 120 feet.] 



Date. 



1906. 



Aug. 1. 



1907. 



July 4.. 

Do. 

July 22. 

Sept.l. 



Penny River. 



Gage 



heig] 



Feet. 



1.11 



1.30 
.99 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
6.2 



31 

12.6 
42 
16.3 



Sutton Ditch. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



1.20 
1.49 
1.11 
1.32 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 



3.7 



24.6 
37.6 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Penny River and Sutton ditch 

at intake for 1907. 

[Drainage area 19 square miles. Observers, Peter Pedersen and E. B. Holdridge.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 




River. 


Ditch. 


River. 


Ditch. 


River. 


D'tch. 


Day. 


1 


Q 


4i 

s 

1 


1 


4^ 


ft 


1 


ft 


to 

O 


ft 


1 


1 
1 

ft 


1 




71 

56 

41 

^0 
'0 

44 
152 


'i'.ii" 

1.2 

1.25 
1.2 


29 
29 
29 
29 
29 

32 
29 
29 
32 
29 

29 
29 
29 
29 
23 


1.6 
1.4 
1.1 
1.1 

.8 

.8 
.7 
.7 
7 
.6 

1.4 
1.2 
1.1 
.9 
.8 

1.0 
.9 
.8 
.8 

1.0 

1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.2 
1.2 
l.J 


85 

85 
85 
85 
85 

79 
55 
26 
26 
10 

10 

7 
7 
7 
4 

55 
34 
26 
14 
10 

19 
14 
10 
10 
19 

44 
44 
44 
34 
34 
26 


0.8 
.8 
1.0 
1.0 
1.2 

1.2 

1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 

1.2 

1.2 

1.2 

1.25 

1.3 

1.25 

1.25 

1.3 

1.3 

1.6 

1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 








9 

9 

18 

18 

29 

29 
29 
29 
29 
29 

29 
29 
29 
32 
35 

32 
32 
35 
35 
47 

29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 


1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
.9 

.9 

.9 

.9 

1.0 

2.1 

1.8 
1.6 
1 
1.0 
1.8 

1.8 
1.7 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 

1.3 
1.2 
1.1 
1.1 
1.1 

1.1 
1.0 
.9 
.9 

.8 


19 
19 
19 
19 
14 

14 
14 
14 
19 
140 

103 
79 
19 
19 

103 

103 
91 
44 
44 
44 

44 
34 
26 
26 
26 

26 
19 
14 
14 
10 


1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 

1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 

1.3 
1.3 
1 3 
1.3 
.5 

.5 
.8 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 

1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 

1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 


35 


2 




35 


3 




35 


4 


1.1 
1.1 

1.3 
2.2 
1.6 
1.3 
1.3 

1.3 
1.2 
1.4 
1 5 
1.2 

1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.5 
l.'^ 

1.5 
1.? 
l.o 
1.4 
1.^ 

1.6 
1.5 
1.5 
1.4 
1.5 
1.6 


35 


5 


35 


6 


35 


7 


35 


8 


79 1.2 
14 1. 25 


35 


9 


35 


10 


14 

t4 
84 

55 
67 
34 

34 
34 
34 
67 
44 

67 

44 
34 
55 
55 

79 
67 
67 
55 
67 
79 


1.2 

1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1 2 
1.1 


35 


11 


35 


12 


35 


13 


35 


14 


35 







16 .. 


1.1 23 
1.1 23 
1.1 23 
1.1 23 





17 


9 


18 


35 


19 


35 


20 


1.1 

1.1 
1.1 
1.1 
1.1 
1.0 

1.0 
1.0 

1.0 
.9 
.8 
.7 


23 

23 
23 
23 
23 
18 

18 
18 
18 
13 
9 
6 


35 


21 


35 


22 


35 


23 


35 


24 


35 


25 


35 


26 


35 


27 


35 


28 


35 


29 


35 


30 


35 


31 














Mean 




54.8 




23.9 




35.3 




23.8 




33.9 




31.8 


Mean total 

Mean per square 
mile 

Run-off, depth 
in inches on 
drainage area. 




78. 
4. 

4. 


7 
14 

77 






59. 
3. 

3. 


1 
11 

58 






65 
3 

3 


.7 
46 

86 





CRIPPLE EIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 

Discharge measurements of Penny River at Highline intake, 1906-7, 
[Elevation 410 feet.] 



143 



Date. 


DiscMrge. 


Per cent 

of Sutton 

intake. 


Date. 


Discharge. 


Per cent 

of Sutton 

intake. 


Aug. 1 . 


1906. 


Sec.-ft. 
7.8 


22 


July 22.. 
Aug. 30. 


1907. 


Sec.-ft. 
15.9 
15.6 


24 








28 









CRIPPLE RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 
DESCRIPTION. 

Cripple River enters Bering Sea about 12 miles west of Nome and 
drains an area of about 88 square miles. The basin is one-sided in 
character, for the principal tributaries, Upper Oregon, Slate, Aurora, 
Oregon, and Arctic creeks, all enter from the east. 

Little systematic mining has been done except on Oregon Creek 
and Hungry Creek, one of its tributaries. Two ditches have been 
built. The Cripple River Hydraulic Mining Co.'s ditch has its intake 
just below Aurora Creek and extends down the right bank of the 
river for about 11 miles. The Cedric ditch is described below. 

CEDRIC DITCH ABOVE PENSTOCK. 

The Cedric ditch was built in 1905 to divert water for mining on 
Oregon, Hungry, Trilby, and Nugget creeks. It diverts water from 
Josie and Jessie creeks (tributary to Stewart River) into the Cripple 
River basin and after passing the divide picks up water from Upper 
Oregon (two forks) , Slate, and Aurora creeks, which are its principal 
feeders, also from Daisy Swift Creek, Snowshoe Gulch, and three other 
small gulches. It has a total length of about 19 miles and a width of 
4 to 8 feet. The elevation of the head is about 870 feet and of the 
outlet 790 feet. The capacity of the lower half is about 25 second- 
feet. Water is carried across Oregon Creek near the outlet by a 
siphon 2,970 feet long, consisting of 30-inch riveted steel pipe. There 
are about 6 miles of distributing ditches at the lower end. 

The following measurements were made to determine the amount 
of water available for the ditch : 

Water available for Cedric ditch in 1906 and 1907. 



Stream. 


1906. 


1907. 


July 15-17. 


July 30-31. 


Aug. 19. 


Aug. 31. 


Josie Creek . . 


Sec.-ft. 

3.0 

1.0 

b3.2 

66.8 

4.0 

4.8 

.5 


Sec.-ft. 
1.5 
a. 8 
1.5 
2.6 
2.0 
2.1 


0.4 
.6 


Sec.-ft. 
a 2.0 


Irene Creek 


aS.O 


Jessie Creek 


a3.0 


Upper Oregon Creek . . 


o3.5 


Slate Creek 




3.1 


Aurora Creek . . . 




2.4 


Daisy Swift Creek.. 














Total available for ditch 


18.3 


10.5 




17.0 









Estimated, b Measured below ditch level; only about hall this amount is available for the ditch. 



144 



SUKFACE WATEB SUPPLY OP SEWAED PENINSULA. 



A regular station was established July 22, 1907, to determine the 
total flow of the ditch. The gage was located just above the penstock 
of the siphon across Oregon Creek. Part of the water was used in a 
giant connected with the bottom of the siphon and part was used for 
hydraulicking about one-fourth mile beyond the siphon up Oregon 
Creek. 

Discharge measurements of Cedric ditch above penstock in 1907. 



Date. 



July 22. 
Aug. 30. 
Aug. 31. 
Sept. 19 




Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
10.3 
8.69 
7.92 




Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Cedric ditch above penstock for 

1907. 

[Observer, F. S. Smitli.] 





July. 


August 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


1 


1 


1 


1 

ft 


■i 


■ft 


4J 

■a 
1 


<D 


1 

i 


ft 


4i 

1 
1 


1 

ft 


1 






1.00 
1.02 
1.02 
1.05 
.95 

.88 
.80 
.92 
.90 
.90 

.88 
.90 
.95 
.98 
.98 


13.1 
13.5 
13.5 
14.0 
12.2 

10.8 
9.3 
11.6 
11.2 
11.2 

10.8 
11.2 
12.2 
12.7 
12.7 


0.95 

.85 
.98 
.88 
.95 

.95 
.98 
.95 
1.05 
1.20 

1.25 
1.15 
1.05 
1.02 
1.10 


12.2 
10.2 
12.7 
10.8 
12.2 

12.2 
12.7 
12.2 
14.0 
16.9 

17.8 
16.0 
14.0 
13.6 
15.0 


16 







1.05 
1.05 
1.08 
1.15 
1.08 

1.10 
1.10 
.95 
.95 
1.05 

1.20 
1.10 
1.05 
1.00 

.85 
.80 


14.0 
14.0 
14.6 
16.0 
14.6 

16.0 
15.0 
12.2 
12.2 
14.0 

16.9 
15.0 
14.0 
13.1 
10.2 
9.3 


1.02 
1.05 
1.05 

".'65' 
.68 
.60 

.60 
.62 
.58 
.52 
.50 


13.5 


2 






17 






14.0 


3 






18 






14.0 


4 






19 









5 






20 









6 .. 






21 









7 






22 


0.80 
.88 

1.00 
.98 

1.00 
.90 
.88 
1.00 
1.10 
1.05 


9.3 
10.8 
13.1 
12.7 

13.1 
11.2 
10.8 
13.1 
15.0 
14.0 





8 .. 






23 


6.6 


9 






24 


7.1 


10 






25 


5.7 


11 






26 


5.7 


12 







27 


6.1 


13 






28 


5.4 


14 






29 


4.6 


15 






30 


4.2 








31 






Mean. 










12.3 





12.9 




9.6 



SINUK BIVEK DEAINAGE BASIN. 
MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 



145 



The following is a list of miscellaneous measurements made in the 
Cripple River drainage basin. 

Miscellaneous measurements in Cripple River drainage hasin in 1906 and 1907. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to— 


Locality. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


Dis- 
charge 

per 
square 

mile. 


July 15,1906 

July 16,1906 
July 30,1906 
Aug. 31,1909 
July 16,1906 
July 30,1906 
Aug. 31,1907 
July 16,1906 

July 30,1906 


Cripple River.. 

Slate Creek.... 

do 

do 


Bering Sea 

Cripple River. 

V.'.'.'.dl'.'.'.'.'.y.'. 
do 


Below Aurora Creek, 
including Cedric 
ditch. 

Cedric ditch intake.... 
do 


Feet. 
450 

840 
840 
840 
830 
830 
830 
750 

750 


Sec.ft. 
22 

4.0 
2.0 
3.1 

4.8 
2.1 
2.4 
6.8 

3.8 


Sq. mi. 
8.4 


Sec. -ft. 
2.62 






do 

do 

do 

do 










do 

do 

Upper Oregon 

Creek. 
do 


do 

do 










do 

do 


Below forks 






Below forks, including 
ditch. 











SINUK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



DESCRIPTION. 

Sinuk River rises on the southern slope of the Kigluaik Range, 
adjacent to the headwaters of Grand Central River and of Thompson 
and Buffalo creeks. It flows in a southwesterly direction, entering 
Bering Sea near Cape Rodney. The upper portion of its drainage 
basin is mountainous. Some of the peaks reach elevations of more 
than 3,000 feet and the river itself rises at an elevation of over 1,000 
feet. The upper valley contains a large amount of glacial debris 
and rock slide. Near the mouth of Stewart River, which is the 
principal tributary, the river enters a lowland basin. The principal 
tributaries to the upper stream are Windy Creek and the outlet of 
Glacial Lake from the north, and Stewart River from the south. 
North Star Creek lies between Windy Creek and upper Sinuk River 
and is tributary to the former. 

Little mining has been done in this basin, though gold has been 
found on a few streams. The only ditch which has been built to 
divert the water from its tributaries is the Cedric, which extends from 
Josie, Irene, and Jessie creeks over the divide from Cripple River. 
Upper Sinuk River could be diverted into Nome River either over 
the Buffalo divide, which has an elevation of 1,012 feet, or by way of 
Stewart River over the Silver Creek divide at a slightly lower level. 
63851°— wsp 314—13 10 



146 SUEFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 

Either of these diversions would require so much expensive and 
difficult construction that they have never been seriously considered. 

Grand Central River and its tributaries, with their low-water flow 
reenforced by storage, will probably furnish as much additional 
water as the development of the Nome region will require, at a smaller 
cost than that at which it could be obtained from Sinuk River and 
Windy Creek. If a large body of ground adapted to hydraulic mining 
should be discovered in the Sinuk River basin, the river will furnish 
a good supply of water at a high level. 

It has been proposed to construct a ditch from upper Sinuk River 
to Irish Hill, an area of bench placer deposits near Washington Creek, 
a headwater tributary from the south of Cripple River, but this 
would require a long and expensive waterway. 

Sinuk River and its tributaries, on account of the rather high ele- 
vations at which they rise, are affected by the freezing of their head- 
waters much sooner than Nome River and somewhat earlier than 
Grand Central River, which continues to receive warm water from 
springs after the surface begins to freeze. On September 22, 1907, 
Sinuk River had nearly gone dry on account of cold weather, and the 
discharge of Windy Creek had been noticeably affected, although 
the flow of Nome and Grand Central rivers had not been appreciably 
reduced. 

The following gaging stations were maintained during 1907, and 
readings on the gages were obtained about once a week. Measure- 
ments had been made at the same points in 1906, but not often enough 
for an estimate of daily discharge to be made. 

Upper Sinuk River at elevation 700 feet. 
Windy Creek at elevation 650 feet. 
North Star Creek at elevation 900 feet. 

UPPER SINUK RIVER AT ELEVATION 700 FEET. 

This station was originally located just below a small lake where 
fair measurements could be made. A gage was set on July 1, 1907, 
but the channel shifted so greatly that readings were of no value. 
It was reestablished about 1 J miles downstream on August 8, and a 
new measuring section was selected near the gage. 

The results are only approximate but serve to give a general idea 
of the regimen of the stream. 



SINUK EIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



147 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of upper Sinuk River at elevation 

700 feet, for 1907. 

{Drainage area, 8.2 square miles, o Observer, Elmer Ackerson.1 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


670 
60 
54 
40 
48 

6 52 
46 
42 
42 
60 

80 
70 

6 75 
62 
52 

44 
40 
50 
60 
80 


;;;;;;; 

■"i."28" 

■■i.'27' 
....... 



"i.'49" 


36 
35 
34 
31 
29 

26 
24 
c26 
25 
25 

24 
d24 
24 
24 
22 

60 
100 

82 
c70 

46 


"i.'38' 
1.32 

■■i.'48' 

■■i.'4i" 


55 
d46 
40 
50 
40 

d83 
30 
28 
60 

160 

114 
90 
75 

C65 
68 

52 
46 
6 41 
35 
32 


21 


100 
60 
56 
48 
42 

38 
6 36 
29 
24 
28 
32 


'"i.'34' 
"i'/AO 


54 
54 
d37 
34 
32 

50 

62 
c55 

80 
100 

70 


■■i.'2i' 


24 


2 


22 


«7 


3 


23 




4 


24 






5 


25 






6 


26 








27 






8 


28 






9 


29 






10 


30 









31 








Mean .. 

Mean per 
square mile 

Run-off, 
depth in 
inches on 
d r a i nage 
area 






12 


52.3 
8.44 

9.73 





45.0 
5.49 

6.33 


'1 


53.7 


13 




14 


6.55 


15 




16 




17 




18 ... . 


5.36 


19 




20 









« Elevation, 770 feet, and drainage area, 6.2 square miles during July, 
t Measmrement at elevation, 770 feet. 
c Measurement at elevation, 700 feet. 
d Computed from gage reading. 
« Estimated; slush ice running. 

Note.— Other discharges were obtained by plotting a hydrograph passing through the known points 
and following the rise and fall of Nome and Grand Central rivers. 

WINDY CREEK AT ELEVATION 650 FEET. 



Windy Creek, the first large tributary of Sinuk River, lies between 
the main ridge of the Eagluaik Mountains and the headwaters of the 
Sinuk. It adjoins West Fork of Grand Central River, from which 
it may be reached by crossing a high divide. The topography is very 
rough, the creek disappearing in places among the large bowlders 
which form its bed. 

The gaging station was located about 2 miles above the mouth of 
the creek. Measurements were made between the two lakes lying 
just below Mosquito Pass. This was the only practicable measuring 
section, but conditions were very poor. The gage was located in a 
permanent section just below the lower lake. 



148 



SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Windy Creek at elevation 650 

feet, for 1907. 

[Drainage area, 12 square miles. Observer, Elmer Ackerson.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


+5 

1 

1 


1 

5 


i 

1 

o 


i 

s 




1 

Q ■ 


1 

X) 

1 




s 


i 

s 

1 




S 


1 


«5 
1 

5 


1 


1.36 


a 128 
96 
90 
100 
112 

120 
116 
114 
120 
130 

140 

125 

&128 

105 

85 

74 
66 
70 
80 
100 


"i.'6i" 
'i-'oo' 

'L2i' 


60 
56 
52 
50 
42 

34 
32 
6 35 
34 
34 

32 

033 
33 
33 
32 

90 
125 
100 
6 88 

60 


'i.'is' 


1.05 

"i.'26' 
'i.'os" 


72 
C67 
56 
64 
54 

a 43 
38 
36 
80 

200 

140 
110 

90 
079 

70 

64 
56 
a 50 
45 
40 






130 
80 
76 
72 
68 

60 

6 57 
48 
40 
50 
56 


Toe" 
"i.'i4' 


70 
72 
a 45 
42 
40 

68 

80 
6 70 

90 
120 

82 




30 


2 


22 




cl5 


3 




23 






4 




24 








I::::::::. 




25 








6 




26 









7 




27 


1.13 






8 




28 






9 




29 








10 




30 . 












31 








11 










12 




Mean... 




91.5 
7.62 

8.78 







59.2 
4.93 

5.68 




68.1 


13 


1.36 


Mean per sauare 
mile 

Run-ofl, depth in 
inches on drain- 
age area 




14 


5.68 


15 






16 




4.65 


17. . 








18 






19 






20 . 

















a Computed from 
Note. — Other discharges 



gage reading. t> Measurements. c Estimated; slush ice running, 

were obtained in the same manner as those of Sinuk River. 



NOETH STAE CEEEK AT ELEVATION 900 FEET. 



North Star Creek drains a high cirque lying between the basins of 
Windy Creek and Sinuk River. The gaging station was located about 
half a mile above the mouth of the canyon, where measuring condi- 
tions were fair and the channel only slightly shifting. The results are 
only approximate but serve the purpose of indicating the behavior 
of the stream in a general way. 



SIITUK EIVEK DEAINAGE BASIN". 



149 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of North Star Creek at elevation 

900 feet, for 1907 . 
[Drainage area, 2.3 square miles. Observer, Elmer Ackerson.] 





July. 


August 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


1 


1 
P 


•a 
1 

o 


8. 

S 


i 

1 




i 


! 

a 




1 


-CI 

1 




1 

ft 


1 

1 




1 


1 


1.36 


"28 
20 
16 
13 
14 

a 16 
14 
13 
14 
16 

20 
22 
a 23 
17 
14 

12 
10 
13 
17 
24 


'6.' 94" 
".■97' 

"i.'io' 


8 
7 
7 
6 
5 

5 

4 

04.8 

5 

5 

5 
b5.Z 
5 
5 
5 

15 

25 
16 

as. 3 
7 


'6." 92' 
.94 

'los" 
'i.'oo' 


7 

64.5 
4 
7 
6 

6 4.8 

4 

4 

4 
40 

30 

20 
14 

67.8 
7 

7 
6 
6 5.7 
5 
4 


21 




30 
20 
16 
13 
10 

8 
05.5 
5 
4 
5 
6 


"6.'97' 


'i.'is" 


8 
8 
65.2 
5 
4 

8 
12 
a9. 1 
14 
20 
10 


'6."75" 


3 


2 


22 




c2. 


3 




23 






4 




24 








5 




25 








6.. . . 


1.26 


26 








7 


27 


1.03 






8 




28 






9 




29 








10 




30 












31 








11 










12 




Mean.. 




14.8 
6.43 

7.41 







8.3 
3.61 

4.10 




8.0 


13 


1.33 


Mean per square 
mile 




14 


3.87 


15 




Runoff, depth in 
inches on drain- 
age area 




16 . 




3. 16 


17 








18 






19 






20 













a Measurements. 6 Computed from gage reading. c Estimated: slush ice running. 

Note.— Other discharges were obtained in the same manner as those of Sinuk River. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASLTIEMENTS. 

The following is a list of miscellaneous measurements made in the 
Sinuk River drainage basin: 

Miscellaneous measurements in Sinuh River drainage hasin, 1906 to 1909. 



Date. 



Stream. 



Tributary to — 



Locality. 



Eleva- 
tion. 



Dis- 
charge. 



Brain- 
age 
area. 



Dis- 
charge 

per 
square 

mile. 



June 27,1906 



July 
July 
Aug. 
Aug. 
Sept. 



1906 
20, 1906 

3, 1906 
10, 1906 

5, 1909 



June 21,1906 

June 27,1906 
July 13,1906 
Aug. 3,1906 
Aug. 10,1906 
Sept. 6,1906 
Sept. 5,1909 
Sept. 15, 1909 
Jime 27,1906 

July 6,1908 
JvUy 13,1906 
July 20,1906 
Aug. 3, 1906 
Aug. 10,1906 
Sept. 5,1909 
July 15,1906 
July 17,1906 
July 30,1906 



Sinuk River 

do.. 

do.. 

do.. 

do.. 

do.. 

Windy Creek 



...do.. 
...do.. 
...do.. 

..do.. 

..do.. 

..do.. 
...do.. 



North Star 
Creek. 

do 

....do 

...-do 

....do 

...-do 

....do 



Bering Sea 

...do 

..-do 

...do 

..-do 

...do 

Sinuk River. 



-do 

.do 

.do 

.do 

-do 

-do 

.do 

Windy Creek 



Below upper lake 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

Level of ditch from 
Buffalo divide. 

do 

Between lower lakes... 

do 

do 

....do 

....do 

.-...do 



....do 

....do 

....do 

...-do 

....do 

....do 



Stewart River. 

-..-do 

...-do 



Sinuk River. 

....do 

....do 



In canyon 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

...-do 

....do 

Below Mountain Creek 

...-do 

...-do 



Feet. 
770 
770 
770 
770 
770 
770 

1,100 

1,100 
670 
670 
670 
670 
670 
670 
900 



900 
900 
900 
900 
900 
400 
400 
400 



Sec.-ft. 
33 
37 
36 
20 
24 
12.4 



17.1 

48 

32 
a 35 
o32 

20 
0I8 
9.8 

18.1 
16.4 
3.9 
3.0 
2.9 
1.93 
74 



o26 



Sq. m. 
6.2 
6.2 
6.2 
6.2 
6.2 
6.2 
5.9 

5.9 
12.0 
12.0 
12.0 
12.0 
12.0 
12.0 

2.3 

2.3 
2.3 
2.3 
2.3 
2.3 
2.3 

36 

36 

36 



Sec.-ft. 
5.32 
5.97 
5.81 
3.23 
3.87 
2.00 
8.30 

2.90 
4.00 
2.67 
2.92 
2.67 
1.67 
1.50 
4.23 

7.87 
7.13 
1.70 
1.30 
1.26 

.84 
2.08 
L36 

.72 



o Estimated from reading on reference point. 



150 SUKPACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENIISrSULA. 

MiscellaneoiLS measurements in Sinuh River drainage basin, 1906 to 1909. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to— 


Locality. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Dis- 

charge. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


Dis- 
charge 

per 
square 
mile. 


Aug. 12,1906 
July 15,1906 

July 17,1906 
July 30,1906 
Aug. 19,1906 
July 15,1906 
July 17,1906 
July 29,1906 
Aug. 19,1906 
July 15,1906 
July 17,1906 
July 30,1906 
Aug. 19,1906 
July 15,1906 
July 16,1906 
July 17,1906 
July 30,1906 
Aug. 19,1906 


Stewart River. 
Slate Creek o... 

do 

do 

do 


Sinuk River . . 
Stewart River. 

. .do 


Below Mountain Creek 
Near level of Divide 

Creek divide. 
. ..do 


Feet. 
400 
680 

640 
700 
700 
870 
870 
870 
870 
860 
860 
860 
860 
860 
800 
800 
860 
860 


Sec.-ft. 
11.4 
6.7 

4.4 
2.8 
2.2 
63.0 
3.0 
1.5 
1.1 
6 4.0 
1.0 

.8 
6.4 
4.0 
3.5 
3.2 
1.5 

.6 


2.1 

2.1 
2.1 
2.1 


Sec.-ft. 

.32 

3.19 

2.10 


do 

do 


do 


1.33 


....do 


1.05 


Josie Creek.... 


do ... 


Cedric Ditch intake... 

do 

do 

.....do 

do 

do.... 

do 

do 

do 

i mile below ditch 

do 

Cedric Ditch intake... 
do 




do 

do 

do 

Irene Creek — 

do 

do 

do 

Jessie Creek.... 

do 

do 

do 

do 


do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

Durant Creek. 

do 

do 

do 

do 























































a Slate Creek enters Stewart River from the north about 2 miles below its head. 
6 Estimated. 

TRIBXJT ARIES OF IMURTJK BASIN. 

FALL, POND, AND GLACIER CREEKS AND SNOW GULCH. 

Fall, Pond, and Glacier creeks and Snow Gulch are short, swift 
streams which rise in glacial cirques on the north side of a spur of 
the Kigluaik Mountains and flow into the south side of Imuruk 
Basin. There are good-sized lakes on Fall and Pond creeks at an 
elevation of a little more than 1,200 feet, and smaller lakes near the 
heads of Pond and Glacier creeks at higher elevations. 

Weirs were installed on these creeks in the fall of 1906 by W. L. 
Leland. The one on Fall Creek was 24 feet long and the others each 
12 feet. On account of the unfavorable locality and the formation 
of the stream bed, it was necessary to construct low weirs, which were 
without a free fall, and which permitted considerable leakage. 

On September 5, 1906, a measurement was made of each of the 
streams, except Pond Creek, which through its whole course flows 
over bowlders so rough that a measurement is practically impossible. 
These measurements were referred to the weirs and coefiicients 
derived, from which rating tables were made out. The daily dis- 
charges computed for the period for which readings on the weirs were 
thus made are available, but they are only approximate. 

Discharge measurements of Fall and Pond creeks and Snow Gulch in 1906. 



Date. 


stream and locality. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Height 
on weir. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Sept. 5 


Fall Creek below lake 


Feet. 
1,208 
1,212 
1,212 


Inches. 
5 
4 
3i 


5eo,^. 


Glacier Creek below lake 


10 


5 


Snow Gulch . . 


9.7 









GKAND CENTRAL EIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 151 

Daily discharge, in second-feet, of Fall, Pond, and Glacier creeJcsfor 1906. 



Day. 


Fall 

Creek. 


Pond 
Creek.a 


Glacier 
Creek. 


Day. 


Fall 
Creek. 


Pond 
Creek.a 


Glacier 
Creek. 


Aug. 9 ... . 


32 
45 
45 
54 
45 
40 
37 
32 
34 






Aug. 20 


37 
40 
45 
112 
83 


23 
27 
21 
62 
48 
26 
21 
16 




Aug. 11 






Aug. 21 




Aug. 12 






Aug. 22 




Aug. 13 






Aug. 23 




Aug. 14 


23 
21 
16 
16 




Aug. 24 




Aug. 15 




Sept. 3 




Aug. 16 




Sept. 4 




11 


Aug. 18 




Sept. 5 


34 


10 


Aug. 19 


















a The discharges for Pond Creek are based on the same rating as those for Glacier Creek, but it is not 
certain just how closely this rating is applicable. 

COBBLESTONE RIVER. 

Cobblestone River rises on the north side of the mountains, oppo- 
site the head of Windy Creek, from which it is separated by a low 
divide called Mosquito Pass, and flows northward into Imuruk Basin. 
It is about 20 miles long and drains an area of 84 square miles. 
Practically the entire drainage area has been glaciated and is very 
rough and rugged. Most of the tributaries enter from the west; the 
largest, Oro Grande Creek, joins the main stream about 6 miles below 
Mosquito Pass. This basin is seldom visited either by travelers or 
by prospectors. Placer gold has not been found along its course, 
but there are some deposits of graphite in the mountains near the 
head of the stream. 

Cobblestone River, in common with the other streams north of the 
mountains, could furnish a large amount of water power. The most 
feasible project is thought to exist near its lower course, where a 
head of 400 to 500 feet could be developed and a partly controlled 
flow obtained. Two measurements were made of the river about IJ 
miles below Oro Grande Creek, at an elevation of about 500 feet, in 
order to obtain a general idea of the run-off from this area and the 
amount of water available for power development. The results 
of the measurements are as follows: 

August 17, 1908, 227 second-feet. 
September 16, 1909, 127 second-feet. 

The later measurement is probably below the normal flow, because 
the headwaters begin to freeze at about this date. 

GRAND CENTKAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 

DESCKIPTION. 

Grand Central River drains a high, rugged area of 51 square miles 
lying in the heart of the Kigluaik Mountains. West Fork, which may 
be considered the head of the main stream, rises south of Mount 
Osborn, flows in an easterly direction for about 4 miles, and is joined 
by North Fork. Below this junction the river flows southeastward 



152 SUEFACE WA1:EE supply OE SEWAKD PENlNStTLA. 

for about 8 miles and enters the upper end of Salmon Lake. The 
principal tributaries are North Fork, Gold Run, and E-ainbow Creek 
from the northeast, and Crater Lake outlet, Thompson, Thumit, 
Nugget, Jett, and Morning Call creeks from the southwest and south. 
The upper basin is surrounded by mountains 3,000 to 4,000 feet or 
more high, including Mount Osborn, the highest point in Seward 
Peninsula, which reaches an elevation of about 4,700 feet. 

Practically the whole dramage basin has been glaciated. The 
lower valley is filled to a great depth with gravel and outwash mate- 
rial. Soundings taken in Salmon Lake near the upper end indicate 
depths up to 139 feet, and it is probable that bedrock lies at a still 
greater depth. There are well-defined moraines near the mouth 
of each of the tributary gulches in the mountains, that of Thompson 
Creek being especially distinct. These moraines consist of masses 
of angular fragments, gravel, and finer materials. Their surfaces are 
very irregular and contain many small depressions which form lakes 
during wet seasons and drain dry during the periods of drought. 
Some of the valleys present a steplike appearance caused by a 
periodic retreat of the glaciers. Several basins of glacial origin 
contain small lakes, the largest of which are Crater Lake, tributary 
to West Fork, and the lake at the head of Gold Run. There are no 
less than half a dozen well-defined cirques in the basin, the most 
notable being the one at the head of North Fork, which is probably 
the most impressive scenic feature of Seward Peninsula. The 
vertical rock walls rise on three sides of the cirque to elevations of 
2,000 to 3,000 feet above the river and the small glacier in which it 
heads. The glaciers have disappeared from the heads of the valleys 
so recently that the alders which abound in the lower part of the 
drainage basin do not seem to have had time to establish themselves 
in the upper valleys, which are bare of vegetation, except for a few 
mosses and grasses. 

The snow, protected from the direct rays of the sun by the steep 
walls of the valleys, is retained well into the summer. The highest 
water from the melting snow usually occurs late in June and the 
run-off from this source is well maintained until about the middle 
of July. The low water is thus delayed until a later period than on 
Nome River and streams farther south. The minimum stage for 
the summer usually occurs just before the freeze-up in September. 
The season is short on account of the high elevation. The streams 
freeze fully a week earlier than Nome River, and the period in which 
ditches can be operated is a week or 10 days shorter on each end of 
the season. This period will not average more than 70 or 80 days 
unless the snow is removed from the ditch at heavy cost in the early 
summer. The lowest rock exposed by the cutting of the streams and 
glaciers at the head of Grand Central River is a massive limestone, 



GBAKt) CENTRAL ElVER DRAINAGE BASIK. 158 

which furnishes many springs and helps to maintain the flow of the 
river. The largest spring is on North Fork, about a mile above the 
junction, at an elevation of about 860 feet. 

The Grand Central drainage basin is separated from that of Nome 
River by the Nugget divide, which has an elevation of 785 feet. This 
elevation makes possible the diversion of practically all the water 
from the head of the river and its tributaries into the Nome River 
basin, where it can be made available for mining. Two conduits 
for the purpose of making such diversions have been started, the 
Grand Central branch of the Miocene ditch and the wood-stave pipe 
line of the Wild Goose Mining & Trading Co., both of which are 
described elsewhere. (See pp. 108, 263.) It is proposed to reenforce 
the low-water flow of the streams by means of storage, which may be 
obtained on Crater Lake and possibly on the Gold Run lake. Mining 
operations have never been carried on in this basin, and very little 
prospecting has been done except on one or two lodes near Copper 
Creek. 

Grand Central River and its tributaries could be made to furnish 
abundant water power if occasion demanded, but its waters are of 
more value for hydraulic mining and have been developed for such 
use. Gold Run is the best adapted to power development of all 
the tributaries, as a fall of nearly 1,000 feet could be obtained with 
only about 2 miles of flume and pipe leading from the lake. The flow 
is fairly well maintained and could be supplemented during periods 
of low water by water stored in the lake. 

The foHowing stations have been maintained in the Grand Central 
River drainage basin: 

West Fork of Grand Central River at pipe intake, 1906-7. 

West Fork of Grand Central River at ditch intake, 1906-7. 

West Fork of Grand Central River at the forks, 1907-1909. 

Grand Central River below the forks, 1906, 1908-1910. 

Grand Central River below Nugget Creek, 1906. 

Crater Lake outlet, 1906-1909. 

North Fork of Grand Central River at pipe intake, 1906-7, 1909. 

North Fork of Grand Central River near ditch intake, 1906. 

North Fork of Grand Central River at the forks, 1907. 

Gold Run near mouth of canyon, 1906-7. 

Thompson Creek near ditch intake, 1906-1909. 

WEST FORK OF GRAND CENTRAL RIVER AT PIPE INTAKE. 

West Fork drains an area of 7.7 square miles lying between Mount 
Osborn on the north and the headwaters of Sinuk River and Windy 
Creek on the south. It joins North Fork at an elevation of about 
700 feet to form Grand Central River proper. Its basin is diversified 
by cirques, lakes, moraines, and rapidly falling streams. Its princi- 
pal tributary is Crater Lake outlet, which enters from the south about 



154 



SUKFACE WATEE SUPPLY OP SEWAED PENINSULA. 



half a mile above the mouth. There are several small springs in the 
stream valley just above the mouth of the lake outlet. A lateral 
of the Wild Goose pipe line about 1 J miles long has its intake on West 
Fork at an elevation of about 1,010 feet and extends to Crater Lake. 
Measurements were begun near the intake in 1906, to determine 
the amount of water available for the lateral, and have been contin- 
ued at intervals since that time. A gage was established in 1907, and 
some readings were made in that year and in 1909. Daily discharges 
have been computed by means of a hydrograph and by comparisons 
with data at stations farther down the stream for 1906 and 1907. 

Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of West Fork of Grand Central 
River at pipe intake, for 1906 and 1907. 

[Drainage area, 2,8 square miles.] 





1906 (discharge). 


1907 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


tember. 


July. 


August. 


September. 




Ga^e 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


a 19 
18 
15 
18 


12 
12 
12 
14 
14 

a 12 
12 
10 

8 

9 
11 
10 

9 

8 

8 
a 7. 6 
8 
8 
7 

12 
16 
30 
a 18. 5 
15 

19 
27 
24 
24 
22 
22 


22 
19 
IG 
12 
9 

9 

8 

8 

o7.3 

7 

7 
7 
7 
6 
6 

6 
6 

7 








14 
14 
14 
14 
12 

.a 11. 3 
12 
15 
15 
13 

13 
13 
b 13. 7 
14 
12 

52 
35 
19 
14 
18 

20 
18 
14 

12 
a 12 

12 
12 
11 
39 
33 
26 


""6.' 88" 
• ■• 

1.02 


13 


2 








15 


3 ... 








15 


4 








11 


5 








bll.5 


6 








0.86 


11 


7 








12 


8 




-nr 


31 

29 

a 47 

48 
29 
30 
26 
24 

22 
20 
22 
26 
31 

44 
29 
26 
24 
24 

a 19. 3 
18 
15 
12 
18 
20 


'"'"."9i" 
""".'96' 


13 


9 




20 


10 




74 


11 


a 45 
72 
52 
45 
32 

27 
32 
27 
20 
20 

23 
a 15 

44 

32 
a 25 

19 

19 

16 

14 ■ 

13 

12 


54 


12 


40 


13 


28 


14 


25 


15 


25 


16 


6 23 


17 


17 


18 


13 


19 


12 


20 






12 


21 






12 


22 






10 


23 






11 


24 








25 










26 




a. 98 






27 . 






28 










29 










30 










31 




















Mean 


27.0 
9.64 

8.96 


13.9 
4.96 

5.72 


9.4 
3.36 

2.25 




26.4 
9.43 

8.42 




17.6 
6.29 

7.25 





20.5 


Mean per square mile 

Run-9fE, depth in inches on 


7.32 
6.26 







a Measurements. 

b Estimate based on gage readings. Other discharges are obtained by taking about the same percentage 
of the flow at elevation 860 feet as was found on the dates of measurements. Gagings on June 19, 1906, 
gave 28 second-feet, and on June 26, 26 second-feet. 



GSAKt) CENTRAL ElVEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 



155 



Gage heights and discharge of West Fork of Grand Central River at pipe intake in 1909 

and 1910. 

{Elevation 1,010 feet.] 



Date. 



July 10 

Aug. 5 

8 

Sept. 21 

1910 
Sept. 6 
14 



Hydrographer. 



Measurements. 

Smith and Lane. 

F. F. Henshaw. . 
do 

G. L. Parker 



Lanagan and S mith 
R. G.Smith 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 

0.90 

.52 

.48 

.26 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-fl. 
32 
7.3 
5.1 
1.56 



11.5 
19.4 



Date. 



Gage readings, 

1909. 

July 14 

Aug. 4 

Sept. 2 

Sept. 10 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.70 
.65 
.37 
.34 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
15.0 
12.5 
3.2 
2.6 



WEST FORK OF GRAND CENTRAL RIVER AT DITCH INTAKE. 

The Miocene ditch when completed will divert the water from 
West Fork near the mouth of Crater Lake outlet at an elevation 
of about 850 feet. On June 19, 1906, measurements were begun just 
above the mouth of the lake outlet, to determine the amount of 
water available for the ditch, and the gage was established July 2 
of that year. Regular readings were made until the end of 1907, 
when the station was discontinued in favor of one just above the 
forks, described elsewhere. Measuring conditions at the station 
are excellent, but as the channel is of a shifting character the results 
are somewhat doubtful for certain periods. 

The minimum recorded discharge for one week was 20.3 second-feet, 
for September 12 to 18, 1906, but a much lower stage was reached 
in 1908 and 1909. 

Discharge measurements of West Fork of Grand Central River at ditch intake, 1906 to 1910. 

[Elevation, 850 feet.] 



Jxine 19. 
June 26. 
July 1.. 
July 10. 
July 11. 
July 22. 
July 24. 
July 25. 
Aug. 6.. 
Aug. 16. 



Julys. 



Date. 



1906. 



1907. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



1.05 
1.53 
1.20 
1.41 
1.34 
1.12 

l5i 



1.30 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
40 
38 
29 
115 
86 
38 
58 
50 
31 



July 16. 
July 26. 
Aug. 6.. 
Aug. 25. 
Sept. 5.. 
Sept. 16. 



Sept. 4a.. 
Sept. 14 a. 
Sept. 20.. 



Date. 



1C07. 



1910. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.18 
1.13 
1.01 
1.18 
1.18 
1.37 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 



a Measurements made by R. G. Smith. 



156 



SURFACE WATEB SUPPLY OF SEWARD PEim^SULA. 



Daily gage height^ in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of West Fork of Grand Central 
River at ditch intake for 1906 and 1907. 

[Drainage area, 5.4 square miles. Observers, J. E. Styers and Cornelius Edmunds.] 





1906 


1907 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


O 


1 




1 

s 


.CI 

"S 


ft 




a5 

1 


to 


ft 


1 


s 


I 




29 

2S 
22 
23 
162 


1.12 

1.12 
1.15 
1.11 


30 
30 
30 
34 
34 

30 
32 
29 
26 
23 

25 

28 
27 
25 
24 

23 

22 
22 
22 
21 

30 
36 
60 
37 
33 

38 
54 
47 
47 
44 
44 


1.27 
1.24 
1.20 
1.12 
1.08 

1.05 
1.05 
1.02 
1.01 
1.00 

1.00 

1.00 

.93 

.95 

.92 

92 

.92 

1.00 


44 
40 
36 
30 
27 

25 
25 
23 
23 

22 

22 
22 
21 
20 
19 

19 
19 
22 








45 
44 
43 
43 
39 

37 
39 

47 
47 
40 

41 
41 
43 
43 
38 

103 
77 
60 
43 
56 

63 
56 
43 
37 
35 

36 

37 
35 
93 
82 
66 


1.20 
1.25 
1.10 
1.15 
1.15 

1.15 
1.12 
1.10 
1.35 
1.85 

1.75 
1.60 
1.45 
1.40 
1.40 

1.37 
1.32 
1.30 
1.28 
1.28 

1.27 
1.22 


41 


2 


1.10 
1.00 
1.10 
l.SJ 








47 


3 








31 


4 








36 


5 






1.08 

1.06 
1.08 
1.15 
1.15 
1.09 

1.10 
1.10 
1.12 
1.12 
1.07 

1.49 
1.48 
1.38 
1.25 
1.35 

1.40 
1.35 
1.25 
1.20 
1.18 

1.19 
1.20 
1.18 
1.50 
1.48 
1.38 


36 


6 






36 


7 










33 


8 . . 






1.30 

'i.'si' 

1.18 


69 
65 
107 

110 
65 
63 
60 
54 

51 
45 
50 
60 

70 

100 
65 
58 
54 
54 

45 

42 
34 
28 
41 
45 


31 


9 






61 


10 


1.65 

1.53 
1.75 
1.60 
1.55 
1.45 

1.40 
1.45 
1.40 
1.30 
1.30 

1.35 

1.20 
1.52 
1.41 
1.33 

1.25 
1.25 


116 

86 
144 
103 
90 
70 

61 
70 
61 

47 

47 

54 
36 
83 
63 
51 

42 
42 
39 
36 
32 
31 


1.02 

1.05 
1.10 
1.08 
1.05 

1.01 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
.93 

1.12 
1.20 
1.39 
1.21 
1.16 

1.22 
1.35 
1.30 
1.30 
1.27 


149 


11 


109 


12.. . 


84 


13 


59 


14 


52 


15 


52 


16 


48 


17 


42 


18 


40 


19 


38 


20 








38 


21 . 








37 


22 


1.6j 


«103'"" 


.... 


32 


23 . . . 


35 


24 










25 






1.20 
1.13 






26 










27 










28 












29 


1.20 
1.15 
1.14 












30 ... . 






1.10 






31 






















Mean... 




62.0 
11.5 

11.5 




32.5 
6.02 

6.94 




25.5 
4.72 

3.16 




60.0 
11.1 

9.90 




50.2 
9.30 

10.7 


:::::; 


50 7 


Mean per square mile. 

Run-off, depth in 
inches on drainage 
area 


9.39 
8.03 







a Not included in mean. 

Note.— Discharges for 1907 have been computed from four rating tables on account of the shifting chan- 
nel conditions, and are somewhat uncertain. Discharges for days between July 8 and August 5, when the 
gage was not read, were obtained by the aid of a hydrograph. 

WEST FORK OF GRAND CENTRAL RIVER AT THE FORKS. 



This station was established July 8, 1907, in order to show the total 
flow of West Fork above its junction with North Fork, and records 
were maintained during the three years following. Measurements 
were made below the forks and the discharge of North Fork sub- 
tracted to give that of West Fork, except at extreme low water, when 
good measurements may be made in a short section of smooth water 
just above the junction. 



GEAND CENTRAL EIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



157 



The lowest mean discharge for one week was 15.6 second-feet^ Sep- 
tember 15 to 21, 1909. The values for all except the last day of this 
period were interpolated, but the mean is probably near the true 
average discharge for the week on account of the gradual decrease in 
supply due to freezing near the head of the stream. 

Discharge measurements of West Fork of Grand Central River at the forks in 1907-1910. 

[Elevation, 690 feet.] 



Date. 



1907. 

July 10 

July 16 

July 26 

Aug. 5 

Aug.13 

Aug. 26 

Sept, 5 

Sept. 17 

1908. 

Julys 

July 15 

Aug. 14 



height. 



Feet. 
1.8S 
1.77 
L74 
1.65 
1.61 
1.71 
1.62 
1.70 



1.44 
1.42 
1.65 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
107 
80 
77 
50 
46 
61 
44 
61 



Date. 



Sept. 4.. 
Sept. 26. 



1908. 



July 18. 
Aug. 5.. 
Aug. 8 . 
Sept. 4 . 



1909. 



Sept. 4o.. 
Sept. 14 a. 
Sept. 20... 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.55 
1.40 



1.10 
.96 
.95 



1.22 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
47 
23 



33 
25 
24 
17.7 



o Measurements by R. G. Smith. 

Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of West Fork of Grand Central River 

at the forks for 1907-1909. 

[Draiaage area, 7.7 square miles. Observers, Cornelius Edmunds, 1907; Walford, Letson, and Chapman, 

190^9.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


i 

.a 

1 

o 





1 
1 


i 

1 
S 


J3 

1 


P 




1 


1 

O 


1 

s 




1 


1907. 
1 






1.72 
1.71 
1.70 
1.70 
1.65 

1.60 
1.60 
1.62 
1.64 
1.62 

1.62 
1.65 
1.62 
1.65 
1.62 

1.88 
2.00 
1.92 

1.88 
1.78 


66 
64 
61 
61 
50 

42 
42 
45 
48 
45 

45 
50 
45 
50 
45 

112 
154 
125 
112 

82 


1.82 
1.78 
1.63 
1.72 
1.68 

1.68 
1.76 
1.84 
2.07 
2.70 

2.37 
2.12 
1.82 
1.80 
1.80 

1.74 
1.70 
1.67 
1.62 
1.61 


93 

82 
47 
66 

57 

57 
77 
99 
179 
406 

287 
197 
93 

87 

87 

71 
61 
54 
45 

44 


1907. 
21 




140 
90 
80 
76 
74 

74 
61 
50 
42 
57 
61 


1.82 
1.78 
1.72 
1.65 
1.64 

1.63 
1.64 
1.65 
2.32 
2.38 
.88 


93 

82 
66 
50 
48 

47 

48 

50 

276 

291 

115 


1.59 
1.54 
1.61 


41 


2 






22 




34 


3 






23 ... 




44 


4 






24 






5 






i 25 


1.75 

1.75 
1.70 
1.65 
1.60 
1.68 
1.70 






6 






26 






7 






27 






8 


1.93 


129 
95 
112 

125 
90 
95 

88 
80 

79 
70 
75 
85 
100 


28 






9 


29 . . 






10 


:.ss 


30 








31 






11 








12 


. 


Mean 

Mean per square 


84.5 
11.0 

9.82 


...... 


81.0 
10.5 

12.1 




100 


13 






14 




13.0 


15 




Run-off, depth in 
inches on drain- 




16 


1.77 


11 1 


17 






18 






19 






20 

















158 



SURFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of West Fork of Grand Central River 
at the forks for 1907-1909— (Jontinued. 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September 


Day. 


1 


1 

5 


4^ 

-a 
1 
1 




2 


f 


1 


1 


•a 
1 

1 


1 


-a 

o 


s 


1908. 
1 




70 
62 

55 
48 
40 

35 
32 
28 
25 
25 

35 
77 
36 
26 
25 

25 
25 
26 
22 
22 

22 
21 
18 
20 
18 

18 
18 
20 
20 
130 
170 


1.62 
1.55 
1.60 
1.65 
1.90 

1.72 
1.60 
1.60 
1.53 
1.50 

'L96" 
1.75 
1.68 
1.60 

1.60 
1.55 
1.55 
1.70 
1.65 

1.60 
1.60 
L70 
1.60 
1.68 

L65 
1.60 
1.45 
L40 

*L66' 


67 
48 
60 
77 
170 

101 
60 
60 
43 
36 

36 
170 
112 
87 
60 

60 

48 
48 
94 

77 

60 
60 
94 
60 

87 

77 
60 
29 
22 
22 
80 


1.60 
1.59 
1.55 
1.53 
1.50 

1.45 

'L'-iB' 

"i.'43' 

"L46' 
1.40 


60 

58 
48 
43 
36 

34 
32 
31 
30 
29 

29 
29 
29 
29 
29 

28 
27 
26 
26 
26 

25 
24 
23 
22 
22 

22 
22 
22 
22 
22 


1909. 
1 




122 

118 
118 
112 
106 

110 
107 
104 
101 
98 

94 
90 
81 
72 
60 

52 
50 
60 
50 
50 

46 
41 
36 
31 
33 

31 
31 
28 
30 
28 
27 


0.96 
.98 
1.03 
1.05 
1.01 

1.00 
.98 
.96 
LIO 
L14 

105 
LOO 
1.04 
1.02 
LOl 

1.00 
.99 








25 
28 
36 
39 
33 

31 

28 
25 
50 
60 

39 
31 
37 
34 
33 

31 
30 
29 
28 
28 

27 
26 
26 
25 
24 

24 
21 
20 
20 
22 
20 


0.90 
.90 
.89 
.90 
.91 

.90 
.90 
.89 
.89 
.89 

.88 
.88 
.89 
.88 

.85 


19.0 


2 




2 




19.0 


3 




3 




18 1 


4 




4 




19.0 


5 




5 




20 


6 




6 




19.0 


7 




7 




19 


8 


1.44 
1.42 
1.42 

1.49 
1.65 
1.50 
1.43 
1.42 

1.42 
1.42 
1.43 
1.40 
1.40 

1.40 
1.39 
1.35 
1.37 
L35 

1.35 
1.35 
1.37 
1.38 
1.80 
1.90 


8 




l&l 


9 


9 




18. 1 


10 


10 




18.1 


11 


11 




17.2 


12 


12 




17 2 


13 


13 




18.1 


14 


14 




17.2 


15 


15 




17 


16 


16 




16 


17 


17 


1.10 
1.10 
1.10 
1.10 

1.08 
1.06 
1.03 
1.00 
1.01 

1.00 
1.00 
.98 
.99 
.98 
.97 


16 


18 


18 


16 


19 


19 


15 


20 


20 


15 


21 


21 


14.5 


22 


22 




23 


23 . .. 






24 


24 






25 


25 






26 


26 . ... 






27 


27.-.. 






28 


28 






29 


29 






30 


30 






31 


31 












Mean. 
Mean per 
square 
mile 






Mean. 

Mean per 

square 

mile 




39.2 
5.09 

5.87 




69.8 

9.06 

10.4 





30.2 
3.92 

4 37 




68.0 
8.83 

10.18 




30.0 
3.90 

4.50 




17.5 
2.27 


Run-off, 
depth in 
inches on 
drainage 
area 




Run-o f f, 
depth in 
inches on 
drainage 




1.77 













GRAND CENTRAL RIVER BELOW THE FORKS. 



This station, which was established July 1, 1906, shows the total 
discharge of upper Grand Central River available for diversion over 
the Nugget divide. The gage is located just below the point where 
the waters from the two forks meet. Measurements were made about 
a quarter of a mile below the gage at a point where conditions for 
measurements are good. No gage heights were observed at this 
point in. 1907, for the reason that records were kept on both West Fork 
and North Fork near their junction, but the channel was found to be 
more stable here than at the North Fork station, and observations 
were therefore resumed in 1908. The discharge for a part of 1910 



GEAND CENTRAL EIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



159 



has been estimated for comparison with other records. This dis- 
charge is computed from the inflow to Salmon Lake, which is deter- 
mined by records of the flow of Kruzgamepa River at the outlet of 
the lake. 

A record of the maximum discharge of the river would be of con- 
siderable value, but the flow can only be estimated. The discharge 
for July 8, 1906, estimated from the outflow and rise of Salmon Lake, 
is 1,160 second-feet. The maximum must have been at least one- 
third greater. The observer estimated the maximum gage height on 
that date to be 4 feet, but this estimate is likely to be in error because 
the gage did not extend high enough to record this stage. It indi- 
cates, however, that a maximum crest discharge of 1,500 second-feet, 
or approximately 100 second-feet to the square mile of drainage area, 
is not improbable. As the discharge at Salmon Lake was consider- 
ably greater in the flood of September, 1910, the discharge of Grand 
Central River must also have exceeded that noted above. The 
minimum discharge recorded for one week, September 15 to 21, 1909, 
is 30 second-feet. The discharge for each day except the last day 
of this period was interpolated, but the mean is probably nearly the 
true average discharge for the week, because the supply gradually 
decreased as the water froze near the head of the stream. 

Discharge measurements of Grand Central River below the forks, 1906 to 1910. 
[Elevation, 680 feet.] 



Date. 



July 1 

July 11 

Julv24 

July 24 

July 26 

Aug. 7 

Aug. 17 

1C07 

July 10 

July 16 

July 26 

Aug. 5 

Aug. 13 

Sept. 5 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.95 
1.40 
1.29 
1.22 
1.10 
.89 
.79 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
63 
180 
140 
129 
101 
66 
64 



1.33 


145 


1.20 


121 


1.19 


119 


1.02 


85 


.97 


72 


1.06 


89 



Julys... 
July 15.. 
Aug. 14. 
Sept. 4. . 
Sept. 26. 



July 11a. 
July 18.. 
Aug. 4... 
Aug. 8... 
Sept. 4. . 



Sept. 4 o.. 
Sept. 15 a 
Sept. 20.. 



Date. 



1908. 



1909. 



1910. 



Gage 
height 



Feet. 

0.73 
.68 

1.10 
.90 
.57 

1.10 
.79 

.67 
.54 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 



56 
50 
123 
71 
33 

125 
64 
52 
40 
32 



106 
65 



a Measurements made by R. G. Smith. 



160 



SUEFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Grand Central River below the 
forks for 1906 and 1908-1910. 

[Drainage area, 14.6 square miles. Observers, J. E. Styers and Fred Walford, 1906, 1908; Letson and 

Chapman, 1909-10.] 





1906 


1908 




June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


1 


1 


-».» 

^ 


08 

ft 


1 
1 


1 
ft 


4i 

1 


1 

S 


s 


8 
ft 


to 

1 


1 


+5 


1 
1 


1 






0.95 
.90 
.95 

1.05 


63 
56 
63 
80 
190 

140 
140 
1,160 
760 
300 

198 
280 
198 
187 
168 

160 
180 
100 
91 
100 

100 
82 
143 
145 
118 

100 
100 
100 
82 
82 
67 


0.90 
.90 
.90 
.95 

.90 
.98 
.94 
.90 





.81 
.79 

■".'78' 

"i.'68' 

1.02 

"i.'25' 
1.25 
1.15 
1.12 


67 

67 
67 
74 

74 

67 
79 
73 
67 
65 

66 
68 
65 
62 
59 

56 
54 
54 
53 
53 

65 
59 
210 
96 
86 

140 
210 
135 
135 
111 
104 


1.10 

1.05 

1.00 

.95 

.93 

".'so' 

.78 
.75 
.75 
.75 
.72 

.71 

'i."72' 


100 
91 
82 

74 
72 

67 
63 
59 
55 
54 

53 
50 
50 
50 
48 

47 
47 
54 
180 
420 

510 
310 
200 
200 
170 

110 
130 

100 
90 
80 




115 
105 
95 
85 
80 

70 
60 
57 
43 
43 

65 
106 
58 
52 
50 

46 
46 

46 

41 
36 
33 
33 
33 

31 

29 
29 
29 
180 
165 


0.85 

.90 

.90 

1.00 

1.45 

1.20 

1.10 

.96 

.90 

.90 

"\.m 

1.30 
1.10 
1.00 

1.10 

1.00 

.95 

1.20 

1.20 

1.10 
1.00 
1.30 
1.35 
1.33 

1.20 
1.20 
1.00 
.90 
.90 
1.30 


72 
80 
80 
99 
225 

150 
123 
91 
80 
80 

80 
210 
180 
123 

99 

123 
99 
90 
150 
150 

123 
99 
180 
195 
169 

132 
132 

88 

71 

71 

160 


1.25 
1.17 
1.10 
1.01 
.90 

.68 
".'68' 

"'."64' 

"".'59' 
.57 


146 


2 










125 


3 










108 


4 










90 


s:. .:::::::.:. 










71 


6 . . 












62 


7 












55 


8 . . . - 










74 
62 
62 

80 
03 
75 
70 
68 

65 
65 

65 
62 
60 

60 
55 
52 
52 
52 

50 

48 
48 
48 
30 
25 


50 


9 








48 


10 






1.70 
1.45 


46 


11 






44 


12 . . 






44 


13 






1.45 
1.42 


44 


14 






44 


15 






44 


16 








43 


17 






1.40 
1.10 
1.05 
1.10 

1.10 
1.09 
1.28 
1.29 
1.18 

1.10 

'i.'io' 

1.00 

1.00 

.90 


42 


18 






41 


19 






40 


20 







40 


21 






39 


22 






38 


23 






37 


24 




150 
140 

120 
110 

100 
90 
75 


36 


25 




35 


26 




33 


27 




33 


28 




33 


29 




33 


30 .... 




33 


31 






















Mean 




112 

7.67 

2.00 





185 
12.7 

14.64 




85.? 


121 
8.29 

9.25 






62.7 
4.29 

4.95 




123 
8.42 

9.71 





52.6 


Mean per 
square mile . 

Run-off, depth 
in inches on 
drainage area 




5.84 
6.73 




-- 


... 


3.60 
4.02 



GBAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



161 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Grand Central River below the 
forks for 1906 and 1908-1910— Continued. 





1909 


1910 a 




July. 


August. 


September. 


June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


1 
ID 

1 


i 


2 
1 


1 


+i 


1 


4i 

1 


1 




S 


i 




i 

1 


1 


1 




200 
195 
195 
185 
175 

180 
170 
160 
145 
134 

123 
116 
110 

88 
75 

64 
62 
71 
74 

72 

62 
60 
60 
51 
50 

49 
48 
50 
43 
41 
37 


0.55 
.58 
.68 
.76 
.71 

.60 
.56 
.54 
1.05 
.94 

.79 
.70 
.74 

.80 
.75 

.70 
.67 


41 

44 
55 
65 
58 

46 
42 
40 
122 
97 

70 
57 
63 
71 
64 

57 
54 
52 
50 
48 

47 
45 
43 
42 
40 

40 
36 
36 
38 
42 
39 


0.48 
.47 
.46 
.47 
.50 

.49 
.49 

.48 
.46 
.45 

.45 
.44 

.46 
.46 

.41 


34 
33 
32 
33 
36 

35 
35 
34 
32 
31 

31 
30 
32 
32 
32 

31 
31 
30 
29 
29 

28 








660 
600 
550 
520 
480 

450 
380 
370 
280 
260 

170 
210 
210 
240 
260 

260 
200 
240 
270 
280 

340 
380 
390 
390 
350 

340 
310 
270 
210 

220 
190 











180 
190 
220 
210 
170 

140 
160 
140 
140 
120 

110 
110 
100 
170 
240 

310 
320 
290 
220 
170 

150 
120 
120 
120 
96 

100 
110 

100 
OS 
94 
99 




160 


2 










150 


3 










140 


4 










95 


5 










95 


6 












7 














g 













9 














10 














11 


1.10 












12 












13 














14 














15 






140 

110 
100 
120 
73 
71 

270 
290 
310 
360 
340 

340 
390 

530 
590 
720 









16 








17. 


.78 
.84 
.86 
.85 

.73 
.76 
.72 
.69 
.68 

.67 
.66 
.68 
.62 
.60 
.56 






18 






19. ... 






20 






21. 






22 






23 












24 












25, 












26 












27 












28 












29 












30 












31 




























Mean . 




101 
6.92 

7.98 




53.0 
3.63 

4.18 




31.9 
2.18 

1.70 




297 
20.1 

11.97 




334 
22.9 

26.40 




161 
11.0 

12.68 




128 


Mean per 
square mile . 




8.77 


Run-ofl, depth 
in inches on 
drainage area 




1.63 



a Gage heights were not recorded in 191 0. The discharges are estimated by taking 34 per cent of the com- 
puted inflow to Salmon Lake. This inflow is derived from the rise and fall of the lake and the outflow as 
recorded at the station on Kruzgamepa River at the outlet of Salmon Lake. 

GRAND CENTRAL RIYER BELOW NUGGET CREEK. 

Measurements were begun at this station in June, 1906, and records 
were kept during the greater part of that season in order to determine 
the amount of water flowing from Grand Central River into Salmon 
Lake. This station is below all important tributaries except Jett, 
Morning Call, and Rainbow creeks. Measurements were made by 
wading. The condition of the channel was excellent and the records 
taken are good. They may not represent the total flow of the river, 
however, for the valley is wide and the gravel bed is deep and must per- 
mit considerable seepage. The maximum discharge during the flood 
63851*»— wsp 314^13 11 



162 



SUBFACE WATEB SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



of July 8, 1906, is estimated at 1,500 second-feet. The minimum dis- 
charge for one week, September 11 to 17, 1906, was 100 second-feet. 
No records were kept after 1906, for the data are not of special value. 

Discharge measurements of Grand Central River below Nugget Creek in 1906. 
[ Elevation, 460 feet.] 



Date. 



June 24. 
June 30. 
July?.. 
Aug. 4.. 



height. 



Feet. 
""'6.' 57' 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
313 

148 
286 
123 



Date. 



Aug. 28. 
Sept. 9. 
Sept. 14 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.10 



.36 



Di57 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
324 
121 
101 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second feet, of Grand Central River below 

Nugget Creek for 1906. 

[Drainage area, 44 square miles, Observer, A. W. Peterson.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


} 


1 

ft 


i' 


1 

s 


1 


1 

5 


1 
1 


i 


1 


■p 


J3 

1 

1 

o 




1 


0.50 
.95 


132 
120 
120 
120 
250 

190 

290 

1,500 

1,000 

750 

600 
545 
450 
380 
350 

290 
270 
250 
230 
200 


6.' 50" 
.50 
.50 
.40 

.42 
.45 
.40 
.35 
.50 


120 
120 
130 
140 
140 

130 
140 
140 
135 
130 

130 
132 
132 
132 
109 

114 
120 
109 
100 
132 


0.80 
.75 
.65 
.60 
.60 

.55 
.50 
.50 
.45 
.42 

.40 
.40 
.38 
.35 
.35 

.30 
.30 
.40 


220 
204 
172 
157 
157 

144 
132 
132 
120 
114 

109 
109 
105 
100 
100 

90 

90 

109 

350 

800 


21 


0.60 


157 
130 
210 
210 
160 

132 
128 
124 
120 
115 
110 


0.55 
.50 

1.50 
.80 
.70 

1.05 

1.50 

1.10 

.95 

.90 

.80 


144 
132 
535 
220 
187 

310 

535 
330 
272 
255 
220 




980 


2 


22 


690 


3 


23 




380 


4 




24 




380 


5 




25 




320 


6 




26 


.50 


200 


7 


1.00 


27 


250 


g 


28 




200 


9 




29 




200 


10 




30 




190 






31 






11 


Mean 








12 






311 

7.07 

8.15 




183 
4.16 

4.80 




243 


13 




Mean per 
square 
mile 






14 






15 




5.52 


16 




R u n - off 
depth in 
inches on 
d r a inage 
area . . . 






17 






18 






19 




6.16 


20 

















Note.— The discharge for days on which the gage height was not recorded, is estimated from tTie dis- 
charge of Kruzgamepa River at the outlet of Salmon Lake and of Grand Central River below the forks. 
The mean discharge for the period June 24-30 was 190 second-leet. 

CRATER LAKE OUTLET. 

Crater Lake lies in a depression at a glacial cirque, at an elevation of 
973 feet. Its outlet is a short, swift stream which flows over a rough 
rocky bed having a grade of nearly 300 feet to the mile. Only one 
measuring section could be found that would give even fair results. 
Measurements were begun at this point on June 19, 1906, and a gage 
was established July 2. The channel is probably permanent, except 
during extreme high water. The conditions for measurements are 
poor, but fairly good results have been obtained. The lake, which 
covers 47 acres, is too small in proportion to the discharge to have 
any appreciable effect in regulating the flow of the stream. No good 



GKAND GENTBAL EIVEB DRAINAGE BASIN. 



163 



values for the maximum discharge are available, but it will probably 
exceed 150 second-feet. The lowest recorded discharge was 1.9 
second-feet at the end of September, 1908, but comparisons with 
other records in this basin seem to indicate a lower stage in 1909. 

Discharge measurements of Crater Lake outlet, 1906 to ID 10. 
[Elevation, 925 feet.] 



Date. 



Gage 
height 



Dis- 
charge. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Dis- 
charge. 



June 19. 
June 26. 
July 1 . . 
July 10. 
July 22. 
July 24. 
Aug. 6.. 
Aug. 8.. 
Aug. 16. 
Sept. 9.. 



1906. 



Feet. 



Julys.. 
July 16. 
July 26. 
July 30. 
Aug. 6.. 
Aug. 13. 
Aug. 25. 
Sept. 5.. 



1907. 



1.55 



1.10 
.90 



1.32 
1.18 
1.13 
1.04 
1.00 
.99 
.95 



Sec.-ft- 
14. 
23. 
13. 
59. 
12. 
21. 

7. 
13. 

6. 

4. 



Julys.. 
July 15., 
Aug. 14. 
Sept. 4.. 
Sept. 26. 



1908. 



Feet. 

0.88 
.88 

1.07 
.80 
.43 



June 28a. 
July 10 & 
July 17.. 
Aug. 4... 

Do.. 
Aug. 5... 

Do.. 



1.04 
.86 
.54 
.56 
.72 



Sec.-ft. 
7.9 
6.1 

19.6 
7.6 

1.87 



24.4 
20.7 



Aug. 16a. 
Sept. 46.. 
Sept. 14 &. 
Sept. 20.., 



1910. 



,97 



2.3 
2.7 
5.4 
12.4 



23.7 
13.3 
10.5 
4.1 



o Measurement made by C. H. Munro and W. H. Lanagan. b Measurement made by R. G. Smith. 
Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Crater Lake outlet for 1906-1909. 



[Drainage area, 1.8 square miles. 



Observers, J. E. Styers and Cornelius Edmunds, 1906-7; Walford, Le^ 
son, and Chapman, 1908-9.] 





1906 


1907 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


i 
1 


i 

5 


1 
1 

1 


f 

5 


1 
1 


1 

s 


■a 
1 

1 





-a 

1 


s 


'53 

1 



1 

ft 


1 




14 
14 
14 
25 
69 


0.85 

.90 
.95 
.96 


7 
7 
8 
8 
9 

9 
11 
12 
10 

9 

11 
9 

7 

5.5 
5.5 
5.5 
5.5 
5 

15 
15 
31 
15 
U 


0.98 
.94 
.90 

.82 
.78 

.78 
.78 
.75 
.73 
.71 

.69 
.68 
.65 
.65 
.61 

.151 
.61 
.75 


13 
10 

9 

6 

5 

5 

5 

4.5 

4.3 

4.1 

3.9 
3.8 
3.5 
3.5 
3.1 

3.1 
3.1 
4.5 








20 
20 
17 
17 
12.3 

11.8 
8.0 
11.8 
11.2 
11.2 

11.8 
11.2 
12.3 
12.3 
10.7 

47 
46 
34 
24 
20 

19 
16 
13 
10 
8.0 


1.03 
1.10 
1.08 
1.15 
.93 

.90 
.85 
.83 
.80 
1.05 

1.90 
1.75 
1.40 
1.40 
1.35 

1.00 
.97 
.95 
.94 
.92 

.82 
.75 
.75 


11 8 


2 


1.00 
1.00 
1.15 
1.65 








16.0 


3 








14.7 


4 








19.7 


5 







1.04 

1.03 
.95 
1.03 
1.02 
1.02 

1.03 
1.02 
1.04 
1.04 
1.01 

1.41 
1.40 
1.30 
1.20 

'"95' 


7.4 


6 






6.4 


7 










5 2 


8 






1.32 
■i.'27" 

1.18 


36 
28 
31 

36 
26 
30 
26 
22 

22 
20 
22 
26 
30 

40 
30 
24 
22 
21 


4.8 


9 






4 2 


10 


1.55 

1.25 
1.45 
1.30 
1.15 
1.10 

1.15 
1.10 
1.05 
1.00 
1.00 

1.05 
.96 
1.06 
1.10 
1.05 


59 

33 
50 
37 
25 
21 

25 
21 
17 
14 
14 

17 
12 
18 
21 
17 


.90 

.90 

1.00 

.95 

.90 

.80 
.80 
.79 
.80 

.78 

1.01 
1.01 
1.22 
1.02 
1.00 


12.8 


11 


106 


12 


88 


13 


46 


14 


46 


15 


40 


16 


10 2 


17 


8.9 


IS 


8 


19 


7.7 


20 








7 


21 








4.6 


22 


1.40 


a46 




3 5 


23 


3.5 


24 










25 






1.17 







a Not included in mean. 



164 



SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Crater Lake outlet for 1906-1909- 

Continued . 



♦ 


1906 


1907 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


s 




s 




t^ 




■^ 




^ 




S 






bC 


§, 


M 


S, 


6C 


go 


.M 


S) 


§ 


S) 


too 


§, 






























1 




-d 


1 


^ 


^ 
.§ 


1 




t 


1 


A 

^ 


1 




o 


Q 


O 


^ 


O 


ft 


O 


p) 


O 


^ 


O 


26 


1.02 
1.00 


15 
14 
12 
9 
8 
8 


1.10 
1.12 
1.10 
1.05 
1.00 


21 
23 
21 
17 
14 
13 






1.13 


18.2 

18 

15 

12 

12.3 

17 


1.36 
1.37 
1.35 
1.45 
1.35 
1.30 


41 
42 
40 
52 
40 
34 






27 










28 . . 












29 


.90 

.88 
.88 












30 






1.04 






31 






















Mean 




22.3 




11.8 




5.2 




24.4 




22.1 




21.0 


Mean per square mile. 


12.4 





6.56 




2.89 




13.6 




12.3 




11.7 


Run-off, depth in 
inches on drainage 














































area 


12.4 





7.56 




1.93 




12.1 




14.2 





10.0 





1908 


1909 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


Sept 

1 


ember. 


Day. 


1 


1 


} 


1 
ft 


be 

1 


s 


1 

1 


s 







■ft 


1 




20 
18 
16 
14 
12 

11 

10 
8.4 
7.5 
6.9 

9.0 

11 

11.5 
9.0 

7.8 
8.4 
9.0 
8.7 
7.5 

7.5 
7.5 
6.0 
6.9 
5.6 

5.2 
5.0 
5.0 
5.6 

30 

63 


1.10 
.90 
1.05 
1.10 
1.50 

1.20 

1.00 

.95 

.95 

.90 

"i."36" 
1.15 
1.10 
1.00 

1.00 

.90 

.90 

1.10 

1.00 

1.00 
.90 
1.10 
1.10 
1.08 

1.00 

1.00 

.90 

.85 

.80 

1.00 


21 
9.0 
18 
21 
63 

30 
14 
11.5 
11.5 
9.0 

9.0 

40 
26 
21 
14 

14 
9.0 
9.0 

21 

14 

14 
9.0 
21 
21 
20 

14 

14 
9.0 
7.5 
6.0 

14 


0.95 
.93 
.90 
.86 
.75 

.60 

"'.'58' 

■■.'53' 

".'47' 
.43 


11.5 
10.5 
9.0 
7.8 
5.0 

4.5 
4.0 
3.5 
3.0 
3.0 

3.0 
3.0 
2.9 
2.9 
2.9 

2.8 
2.7 
2.6 
2.5 
2.5 

2.4 
2.3 
2.2 
2.1 
2.1 

1.9 
1.9 
1.9 
1.9 
1.9 


'i.'oi' 

'i.'62' 
".'91" 

.86 
.86 
.87 
.90 

.82 

'"."75' 

.70 

".'76' 
.72 
.70 


24 
23 
23 
22 
22 

22 
22 
21 
21 
20.9 

20.0 
19.2 
17.0 
12.2 
11.1 

10.0 
10.0 
10.4 
11.6 
10.8 

8.3 
8.3 
8.2 
6.2 
5.6 

5.0 
5.0 
5.0 
5.5 
5.0 
4.2 


0.68 

".'so' 

.76 

.72 

.80 

".'68' 
.87 

.86 

".'87' 


4.6 

5.2 
7.5 
6.5 
5.5 

7.5 
5.7 
4.6 
10.4 
10.2 

10.0 
9.0 
10.4 
10.6 
9.3 

7.2 
6.8 

6.5 
6.1 
5.8 

5.6 
5.3 
5.0 
4.7 
4.5 

4.5 
3.5 
3.0 
3.0 
3.5 
3.0 


0.56 
.52 

".'56' 

.57 

.58 
.56 
.54 
.52 
.51 

.51 
.50 
.51 
.50 


2.7 


2 




2.4 


3 




2.3 


4 




2.2 


5 




2.8 


6 




3.0 


7 




2.7 


8 


0.88 
.85 
.83 

.90 
1.10 
1.00 
.95 
.90 

.86 
.88 
.90 
.89 
.85 

.85 
.85 
.80 
.83 

.78 

.76 
.75 
.75 
.78 
1.20 
1.50 


2.5 


9 . . 


2.4 


10 


2.3 


11 


2.3 


12 


2.2 


13 


2.3 


14 


2.2 


15 


2.2 


16 


2.1 


17 


2.0 


18 


2.0 


19 


1.9 


20 


1.8 


21 


1.6 


22 




23 






24 






25 . . 






26 






27 






28 






29 .. 






30 






31 


















Mean 


12.2 
6.78 

7.82 




17.2 
9.56 

11.0 




3.7 

2.06 

2.30 




13.5 
7.50 

8.65 




6.29 
3.49 

4.02 




2.28 


Mean per square 
Rim-ofE, deptl 

inches on dra 

area 


mile. 
1 in 
mage 


1.27 
.99 








GBAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



165 



NORTH FORK OF GRAND CENTRAL RIVER AT PIPE INTAKE. 

North Fork rises in a great cirque carved out of the northeastern 
slope of Mount Osborn by the former glacier, and flows eastward and 
southward to its junction with West Fork to form the main river. 
The high precipitation which the steep, mountainous walls of its 
drainage area receive and the water derived from the melting snow 
tanks and the glacier in the cirque, together with the flow of springs 
along the middle and lower course of the stream, operate to give 
North Fork a very large and well-maintained flow throughout the 
season. The run-off per square mile at this point is greater than that 
of any other stream in Seward Peninsula. 

According to present plans, a lateral of the Wild Goose pipe will 
take water from this fork at an elevation of about 1,030 feet and con- 
duct it along the right bank of the stream to a point near the forks, 
where it will cross the West Fork and discharge into Crater Lake. 
Measurements were begun in 1906 above the proposed pipe intake in 
order to show the amount of water available for this purpose, and 
a gage was installed in 1907, but on account of the torrential and 
shifting character of the stream the gage readings are not a true 
index of the discharge. For this reason the measurements have 
been used only in connection with a hydrograph and comparative 
data for estimating the discharge for 1906-7. In 1909 a gage was 
installed about half a mile below the proposed pipe intake, and a 
sufhcient number of readings were made to afford an estimate of 
daily discharge. 

The lowest mean discharge for a period of one week, as indicated 
by these records, is 10.7 second-feet, September 15 to 21, 1909. The 
values for all except the last day of this period are interpolated, but 
the mean is probably near the true discharge for the week on account 
of the gradual decrease in supply due to freezing near the head of 
the stream. 

Discharge measurements of North Fork of Grand Central River at pipe intake in 1909 

and 1910. 



July 11 a. 
July 18.. 
Aug. 5. . . 
Aug. 8... 
Sept. 4... 



Date. 



Gage 

height. 



Feet. 



0.43 
.20 
.15 
.12 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
36 
27 
14.3 
13.0 
11.6 



Date. 



Sept. 4 a.. 
Sept. 15 o. 



Gage 

height. 



Feet. 
< 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft 



a Measurements made by R. G. Smith. 



166 



SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily discharge, in second-feet, of North Forh of Grand Central River at pipe intake for 

1906 and 1907. 

[Drainage area, 2.3 square miles.] 



Day. 


1906 


1907 


Day. 


1906 


1907 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1 


21 
21 
21 
22 


22 
22 
22 
24 
24 

21 
a 23 
25 
23 
25 

24 
20 
20 
21 

21 

20 
a 19 
20 
19 
20 


31 
031 
27 
27 
28 

26 
23 
22 
a 19 
20 

19 
17 
18 
19 
18 

18 
17 
19 


'a 42" 
37 
40 

56 
48 
52 
40 
33 

33 
30 
34 
40 
48 


30 
34 
29 
29 
a 27 

25 
25 
25 
25 
23 

23 
23 
22 
24 
20 

51 
61 
52 
42 
51 


46 
32 
25 
32 
36 

27 
22 
21 
74 
171 

140 
76 
52 
49 
47 

a 41 
35 
32 
28 
26 


21 


35 
30 
33 

48 
37 

a33 
34 
38 
28 
32 
21 


24 
27 




64 
41 
40 
37 
37 

a 38 
33 
28 
26 
28 
30 


67 
67 
62 
48 
a 43 

54 
55 
44 
110 
98 
61 


25 


2::::::::::: 


22 


15 


3 


23 


45 


18 


4 


24 


o28 
30 

30 
50 
50 
53 
40 
36 






5 


25::::::::::: 




6 




26 




7 




27 




8 




28 




9 




29 




10 




30 








31 






Mean... 

Mean per 
square 
mile 

Run-off, 
depth in 
inches on 
drainage 
area 




12 




30.3 
13.2 

7.86 


27.4 
11.9 

13.7 


22.2 
9.65 

6.46 


39.0 
16.9 

15.1 


43.5 
18.9 

21.8 


46.5 


13 






14 






15 




20.2 


16 






17 






18 






19 




17 3 


20 


31 









a Measurements. Other discharges are obtained by taking about the same percentage of the flow at the 
lower station as was found on the dates of measurements. This varied from 70 to 90 per cent. Gagings 
on June 20, 1906, gave 30 second-feet, and on June 26, 1906, 43 second-feet. The flow from July 5 to 19, 1906, 
probably exceeded 35 second-feet. 

Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of North Fork of Grand Central 
River at pipe intake for 1909. 

[Drainage area, 2.3 square miles. Observers, Letson and Chapman.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


A 



s 


1 




s 


1 

1 




i 
1 

ft 


1 

1 




s 


i 




5 


1 
1 

1 



1 


1 




60 
58 
56 
54 
53 

51 
50 

47 
44 
40 

36 
33 
31 
29 
27 

25 
24 
25 
27 
26 


■6.'26' 

■■.■52" 
.20 

"."is" 

.15 

■■."32" 

"'."27" 

■"■33' 



.31 


13 
14 
24 
34 

14 
14 
15 
34 
20 

18 
17 
24 
20 
19 

19 
18 
18 
18 
17 


'6 A3 
.12 

'".is 
"aq 


12 
12 
12 
12 

15 

14 
13 
12 
12 
12 

12 

12- 

13 

13 

12 

12 
11 
11 
10 
10 


21 


0.32 


20 
19 
18 
15 
15 

14 
14 
14 
16 
14 
12 





17 

17 
16 
16 
15 

14 
13 
12 
12 
13 
12 




9 


2 , ... 




22 




3 




23 









4 




24 








5 




25 








6 . . 




26 


.20 






7 




27 






8. . . 




28 








9 




29 


.25 






10 




30 










31 


.12 














12 . . 




Mean . . . 




31.2 
13.6 

15.68 




17.4 
7.56 

8.72 





12.0 


13 




Mean per square 
mile 




14 




5,22 


15 




Run-off, depth in 
inches on drain- 
age area..... 




16 . .. 




4,08 


17 








18 






19 


0.43 




20 















NORTH FORK OF GRAND CENTRAL RIVER NEAR DITCH INTAKE. 

A proposed lateral to the Miocene ditch has its intake on the North 
Fork at an elevation of 860 feet. There was no good measuring 



GEAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



167 



section near the point of diversion, but in 1906 measurements were 

made and several gage readings were obtained by measuring from a 

reference point farther downstream at an elevation of about 750 feet. 

The discharges obtained ta this manner and those obtained by 

subtracting the combined flow of West Fork at the ditch intake and 

at Crater outlet from the flow of the river below the forks furnished 

the basis for estimates of daily discharges for part of that year. As 

there is no appreciable inflow between the proposed iatake and the 

measuring section the records show the amount of water available 

for the Miocene ditch. 

Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of North Fork of Grand Central 

River near ditch intake for 1906. 

[Drainage area, 5.5 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 




1 






•53 

1 


1 


4.3 

'53 

1 


1 

ft 


-a 
1 
a 

03 
O 




,13 
« 

1 


1 
1 


1 




23 
(23) 
(23) 
(25) 




30 
30 
30 
32 
32 

29 
b32 
33 
31 
33 

32 
27 
27 
28 
28 

a 27 

?'25 

27 

25 

27 


0.92 
'".76 



44 
644 
38 
38 
40 

37 
33 
31 
6 27 
28 

27 
(26) 
26 
27 
26 

25 

25 
27 


21 




(45) 

a 38 

42 

61 

o47 

6 42 
45 
50 
38 
42 
28 




o.'ss' 


(32) 
(36) 
(60) 
6 37 
40 

(40) 
(67) 
67 
71 
54 
48 






2 




22 


0.85 


1.5 


6 c 120 


3 




23 




4 




24 








5 




25 


.95 
.90 






6 








26 






7 






0.81 


27 






8 






28 








9 








29 








10 








30 










1.10 


o67 




31 








1 1 


Mean... 








12 




d39.9 
7.25 

4.58 




36.7 
6.67 

7.69 




<31.6 


13 








Mean per 
sq uare 
mile 






14 










15 . .. 








6.75 


16 .. 






.76 
.74 


Run-off, 
depth in 
inches on 
draina g e 
area 






17 








18 








19 






' 


3 85 


20 




40 























a Measurements. 

6 Estimates based on gage readings. 



c Not included in mean. 
d Mean for 17 days. 



e Mean for 18 days. 



Note,— These values were obtained by subtracting the sum of the discharges at the West Fork and 
Crater Lake station from the flow below the forks. For the days for which this method does not give con- 
sistent results the discharges are based on the West Fork flow and are in parentheses. From July 5 to 19 
the flow did not fall below 40 second-feet. The flow on June 26 was 43 second-feet. 

NORTH FORK OF GRAND CENTRAL RIVER AT THE FORKS. 

This station was established July 8, 1907, to replace the one at the 
ditch intake, where the discharge is practically the same as at this 
point. Gage readings were obtained only during 1907, after which 
the station was discontinued in favor of the one below the forks. 
For 1908 and 1909 the discharge of North Fork at the forks may be 
obtaiaed by subtracting the discharge of West Fork at the forks 
from that of the river below the forks. Measuring conditions are 
fairly good, but the channel shifts slightly at times. Several meas- 
urements have been n^ade since regular measurements at this station 
were discontiQued. 



168 



SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Discharge measurements of North Fork of Grand Central River at the forks, 1907 to 1910. 

[Elevation, 690 feet.] 



Date. 



Julys.. 
July 16.. 
July 25.. 
July 26.. 
Aug. 5.. 
Aug. 13. 
Aug. 26. 
Sept. 6.. 
Sept. 16. 



1907. 



Julys. 



1908. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.31 
1.19 
1.23 
1.20 
1.11 
1.07 
1.36 
1.18 
1.44 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 



30 



Date. 



July 15. 
Aug. 14. 
Sept. 4. 



1908. 



July 18. 
Aug. 8. 



1909. 



1910. 



Sept. 4 o. 
Sept. 15 a. 
Sept. 20.. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec. 



31 
15.4 



tt Measurement made by R. G. Smith. 

Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of North Fork of Grand Central 

River at the forks for 1907. 

[Drainage area, 6.9 square miles. Observer, Cornelius Edmonds.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


1 

i 


1 


■a 

be 

1 
§> 

03 

O 


1 


.a 

1 
1 




^-5 

-a 

1 
& 

O 


& 

1 

1 


•53 

1 


1 


i 

•53 

1 


1 


J 






1.16 
1.20 
1.15 
1.15 
1.12 

1.10 
1.10 
1.10 
1.10 
1.08 

1.10 
1.10 
1.08 
1.11 
1.05 

1.34 
1.40 
1.35 
1.28 
1.34 


38 
42 
36 
36 
33 

31 
31 
31 
31 
30 

31 
31 
30 
32 

27 

69 
83 
72 
56 
69 


1.32 
1.22 
1.14 
1.22 
1.25 

1.16 
1.10 
1.07 
1.50 
2.25 

2.10 
1.68 
1.52 
1.50 
1.49 

1.44 
1.40 
1.37 
1.32 
1.30 


65 
46 
35 
46 
61 

38 
31 
28 
110 

364 

260 
117 
73 

68 
66 

57 
49 
45 
39 
36 


21 




80 
51 
60 
46 
46 

42 
41 
35 
32 
35 
38 


1.44 
1.44 
1.41 
1.32 
1.30 

1.37 
1.38 
1.31 
1.74 
1.66 
1.42 


94 
94 
86 
65 
60 

76 

78 
62 
187 
161 

88 


1.29 
1.10 
1.18 


35 


2 






22 




21 


3 






23 




25 


4 






24 






5 






25 


1.22 

1.20 
1.19 
1.14 
1.11 
1.14 
1.16 






6 






26.... . 






7 ,. 






27 






8 


1.31 


62 
46 
50 

70 
60 
65 
60 
41 

41 
38 
42 
50 
60 


28 






9 


29 






10 


1.25 


30 








31 














12 






48.8 
7.07 

6.31 




61.0 

8.84 

10.19 




74.1 


13 ... 




Mean per 
square 
mile . . 






14 






15 




10.7 


16 


1.19 


Run-off, 
depth in 
inches, on 
drainage 







17 




18 






19 




9.15 


20 

















Note.— Discharges for days during the period July 8-25, when gage was not read, were obtained by the 
aid of a hydrograph. 

GOLD RUN NEAR MOUTH OF CANYON. 

Gold Run enters Grand Central River from the east about 2 miles 
below the forks. It drains a high cirque which heads against the 
crest of the mountains that rise between North Fork and Fox Creek. 
Near the head of the cirque is a small lake having an area of 15 to 20 
acres. This lake is formed by a natural dam whose upper part is com- 
pK)sed of loose rocks and bowlders, through which the water from the 
lake flows out, appearing in the valley several hundred feet below. 
Below the lake the creek falls rapidly to a point near the mouth of a 



GBAJS^D CENTRAL EIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



169 



canyon and emerges on a large alluvial fan of coarse, loose material, 
into which the water sinks except during floods. The gaging station 
is located in a short, fairly smooth section of the creek near the mouth 
of the canyon just above the alluvial fan. Measurements were begun 
June 20, 1906, and the gage was established July 12. Occasional 
readiQgs have been taken and discharges are estimated for 1906 and 
1907. These estimates give a general idea of the volume of the 
stream. The individual measurements are good, for conditions at 
the section are better than the average for this class of streams. 

No record was obtained during the low-water periods of 1908 and 
1909, except the measurement of September 21, 1909. The dis- 
charge for one week during the open season has probably reached as 
low a stage as 8 second-feet. 

Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Gold Run near mouth of canyon 

for 1906. 





1906 


1907 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


1 


1 

5 


t 
1 

1 


<0 

03 

Xi 

5 


1, 

1 



i 

s 


Xi 



1 

5 


Xi 



1 








1 




14 

a 13 

13 

20 


:::::: 


18 
18 
18 
20 
24 

30 
6 34 
6 22 
6 21 

20 

20 
24 
22 
20 
18 

617 
616.5 

16 

16 

15 

28 
34 
50 
34 
6 29 

44 
68 
o51 
40 
36 
32 


"6.'%" 
"".'7i' 


30 
6 26 
23 
20 
17 

16 
15 
14 
13 
12 

12 
12 
11 
11 
11 

10 
10 
12 








24 
24 
22 
22 
6 22 

19 
16 
18 
18 
15 

15 
15 
15 
al6 
13 

60 
55 
48 
40 
60 

75 
75 
70 
60 
56 

6 74 
76 
60 
90 
70 
40 


'i.'22' 













1.38 


22 


2 










25 


3 










25 


4 










30 


5 








1.24 


6 20 


6 












16 


7 






1.03 
.90 
.89 








14 


8 






1.57 1 a 72 


•i:i6- 
...... 

1.58 


13 


9 






1.40 


60 
80 

86 
65 
70 
60 
48 

6 42 
38 
42 
48 
54 

70 
45 
40 
35 
32 

32 
24 
20 
618 
23 
24 


13 


10 






25 


11 




52 

55 
45 
40 

38 
42 
24 
20 
22 

23 
a 18. 5 
6 30 

30 
a 30 

6 24 
24 
21 
20 
19 
18 


.81 
.80 

■".■99" 

"i.'is' 


120 


12 


1.21 


90 


13 


70 


14 




60 


15 




50 


16 




a26 


17 




24 


18 




22 


19 




20 


20 










18 


21 










14 


22 


.84 
1.00 








11 


23 . . 








10 


24 










25 


1.00 
.93 












26 












27 












28 














29 








1.20 
1.25 






30 












31 


























Mean 




29.0 




27.6 





15.3 




47.0 




41.1 





32.1 









a Measurements. 

6 Estimates based on gage heights. Other discharges were obtained by plotting a hydrograph passing 
through the Icnown points and loUowing the rise and fall of the other streams in the vicinity. Gagings 
made on June 20, 1906, gave 22 second-feet and o^ June 25, 24 second-feet. 



170 



SUEFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWAKD PENINSULA. 



Discharge measurements of Gold Run near mouth of canyon, 1908-1910. 
[Elevation, 800 feet.] 



Date. 



Julys.. 
Aug. 15. 
Sept. 4. 



1908. 



July 19. 
Aug. 4. . 



1909. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.18 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec. -ft. 
12.3 
30 
14.1 



Date. 



Aug. 7.. 
Sept. 3., 
Sept. 21 , 



1909. 



Sept. 4 a. 
Sept. 19. 



1910. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.13 
.11 
-.12 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec. -ft. 
15.2 
l>14 
5.4 



o Measurement made by R. G. Smith. 



6 Discharge was estimated from gage height. 



THOMPSON CREEK NEAR DITCH INTAKE. 

Thompson Creek enters Grand Central Kiver from the west about 
2 miles below the forks. It drains a small glacial cirque that is almost 
surrounded by steep, rocky walls, which reach elevations of 2,500 to 
3,500 feet. Measurements were begun June 25, 1906, and a gage was 
established July 22. The gage is located near the trail crossing about 
half a mile above the mouth of the creek. Measurements were made 
fully one-fourth mile farther upstream, at an elevation of 720 feet, 
to show the amount of water available at the level of the Miocene 
ditch. The gage was read occasionally during 1906, 1907, and 1909 
and daily during most of 1908. The records are rather unsatisfac- 
tory on account of poor conditions for measurement, slight shifts in 
channel, and the infrequency of gage readings, but they are suffi- 
ciently accurate to give a general idea of the behavior of the stream. 

A minimum recorded discharge for one week — 2.4 second-feet — 
occurred September 24-30, 1908. 

Discharge measurements of Thompson Creeh near ditch intake, 1906-1910. 
[Elevation, 720 feet.] 



Date. 


Hydrographer. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1906. 
June 25 


Hoy t and Henshaw 


Feet. 


Sec-fl. 


July 2 
12 


do 




11 


J.C. Hoyt 




52 


24 


F. F. Henshaw 


1.42 
1.41 
1.19 
1 

1.55 
1.44 
1.34 
1.14 
1.25 

.91 

.89 
.90 
.80 
.49 


25 


25 


do ... 


23 


Aug. 9 
Sept. 10 

1907. 
July 8 
30 


do 


12.5 


do ........ 


6 2 




49 


Raymond Richards 


32 


Aug. 14 

Sept. 6 

17 


do 


20 


do . . 


9 6 


do 


12.6 


1908. 


F. F. Henshaw 


12.9 


A. T. Barrows . . .... . . 


14.5 


Aug. 15 


do 


12.9 


do 


7.1 


F . F . Henshaw 


2.4 


1909. 
June 28 


Munro and Lanagan 


38 


July 11 


Smith and Lane - 


1.26 
.86 
.86 
.62 
.53 


57 


F. F. Henshaw 


15.4 


17 


do . . . 


13 8 


Sept. 1 
21 


do ^ 


3.7 


G.L.Parker ... . 


2.2 


1910. 
Sept. 19 


do 


5.6 




■ 





GRAND CBNTEAL KIVEE DHAINAGE BASIN. 



171 



Daily gage height, in feet^ and discharge, in second-feet, of Thompson Creek near ditch 

intake for 1906-1909. 

[Drainage area, 2.5 square miles. Observers, Walford and Letson, 1908-9.] 





1906 


1907 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


a> 

O 


s 




1 
ft 


1 
1 


1 ■ 

1 
ft 


1 

i 


1 

ft 




i 

ft 




1 

ft 






11 

oil 
11 
16 




9 

9 
10 
10 
11 

15 
6 22.5 
6 14 
a 12. 5 

11 

11 
17 
14 
12 
11 

69.6 

6 10 

10 

10 

9 

20 
20 
40 
6 23 
21 

28 
30 
28 
6 25.4 
22 
20 


1 


19 
14 
12 

8 

7 

7 

7 

6 
66.2 
"6.2 

6 
6 
6 
5 
5 

5 
5 
6 








30 
27 
23 
20 
15 

6 13 
9 
13 
13 
13 

13 

13 

6 13 

a 20 

15 

50 
50 
39 
29 
25 

25 
23 
18 
13 
69 

6 35 
35 
35 
40 
34 
30 


1.14 

■i.*25' 
"".'99' 


16 


2 










17 












16 


4 










22 












12 


6 












1.24 


a9.6 


7 






1.39 
1.22 
1.19 






8 


g 






1.55 

"i.m 

1.45 


o49 

45 

6 82 

87 
60 
50 
40 
34 

6 32 
30 
34 
40 

4i) 

55 
44 
35 
30 
6 28 

6 35 
34 
31 
27 

a 32 
34 


■l24' 

'i.'is' 

1.47 


7 


9 






7 


10 






15 


11 , 




36 
a 52 
40 
30 
24 

28 
23 
19 
16 
16 

18 
6 13 

21 
<x25 
23 

617.5 
16 
14 
11 
11 
10 


1.11 
1.12 

■i.'46" 

*i.'44" 


100 


12 




80 


13 




50 


14 




50 


15 




42 


16 .... 




14 


17 




a 12. 6 


18 




11 


19 




10 


20 










9 


21 










6 


22 


1.20 








5 


23 ... 








65 


24 


1.42 
1.41 

1.29 











25 






1.42 
1.47 






26 










27 










28 














29 














30 








1.44 






31 

























Mean 




20.5 
8.20 

7.62 




16.6 
6.64 

7.66 




7.6 
3.04 

2.10 




42.2 
16.9 

15.1 





23.9 
9.55 

11.0 




22.8 


Mean per square 
mile 




9.12 


Run-ofl, depth 
in iQehes on 
drainage area. 




7.80 



a Measurements. 

b Estimates based on gage heights. Other discharges were obtained by plotting a hydrograph passing 
through the known points and foUowiag the rise and fall of Crater Lake outlet, whose basin adjoins that of 
Thompson Creek and is of a similar character. 



172 



SUEFACE WATB& SUPPLY OF SEWARt) PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Thompson Creel neat ditch 
intake for 1906-1909 — Continued. 





1908 


1909 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


1 


s 


1 

i 


1 

5 


1 


1 
ft 


1 

•53 

1 




S 


•s 

-a 

1 




1 

s 


1 




1 

5 


1 




32 
29 
26 
24 
21 

18 

16 

14 
9.4 
9.4 

16 
25 
13 

10.2 
9.0 

9.8 
9.8 
11.0 
11.0 
9.0 

7.5 
6.9 
6.0 
6.0 
6.0 

5.6 
6.0 
6.0 
6.0 

50 

42 


1.00 

.90 

.90 

1.00 

1.20 

1.10 
.90 
.85 
.80 
.80 

'i."20" 

1.05 

1.00 

.90 

.95 

.80 

.80 

1.20 

1.00 

.90 

.80 

1.25 

1.30 

1.20 

1.00 
.90 
.80 
.80 
.79 

1.10 


18 
13 
13 
18 
35 

25 
13 

11.0 
9.0 
9.0 

9.0 
35 
22 
18 
13 

16 
9.0 
9.0 

35 

18 

13 
9.0 

42 
50 
35 

18 

13 
9.0 
9.0 

8.7 
25 


0.98 
.85 
.85 
.80 

""."66' 
.66 
.66 
.65 

.65 

'"."ei" 

■"."54" 

'".ho 

.48 


17 

11.0 
11.0 
9.0 
7.0 

6.0 
5.2 
5.2 
5.2 
5.0 

5.0 
4.8 
4.6 
4.4 
4.2 

3.9 
3.7 
3.5 
3.3 
3.1 

2.9 
2.8 
2.7 
2.6 
2.5 

2.3 
2.3 
2.S 
2.3 

2.3 




:::::: 

1.30 
"'.'72" 

"'."88" 

1.00 

.95 

.88 

.84 
.82 
.81 
.72 
.80 

"."72" 
.73 


36 

36 
36 
34 
32 

34 
32 

30 
28 
27 

57 
21 
15 
7.1 
14 

15 

15.8 

25 

21 

15.8 

13.3 
12.0 
11.4 
7.1 
10.8 

10.0 
8.5 
7.1 
7.6 
7.0 
6.2 


"6! 78" 
.86 
.75 

'".'76" 
.70 

.80 

"".'78' 

"'.'so' 


5.5 

- 7.6 
9.9 
14.5 
8.5 

7.4 
6.2 
6.2 

21 

16 

10.8 
8.5 
9.9 
13.0 
12.2 

11.5 
10.8 
10.0 
9.3 

8.5 

7.8 
7.0 
6.2 
5.5 
4.8 

4.0 
3.8 
3.5 
3.5 
4.5 
4.2 




'6.' 60" 

".■56' 




■".■57" 

.53 


4.0 


2 




3.7 


3 




3.6 


4 




3.5 


5 




4.0 


6 




3.5 


7 




3.2 


8 


0.91 
.81 
.81 

.95 
1.10 
.90 
.83 
.80 

.82 
.82 
.85 
.85 
.80 

.75 
.73 
.70 
.70 
.70 

.68 
.70 
.70 
.70 
1.30 
1.25 


2.8 


9 


2.8 


10 


2.8 


11 


2.8 


12 


2.9 


13 


3.0 


14 


3.0 


15 


2.8 


16 


2.7 


17 


2.6 


18 


2.5 


19 


2.4 


20 


2.3 


21 


2.3 


22 




23 






24 






25 






26 






27 






28 






29 . 






30 






31... 
















Mean.... 

Mean per 
square mile.. 

Run-off depth 
in inches on 
drainage area 




15.2 
6.08 

7.01 





18.7 
7.48 

8.62 




4.9 
1.96 

2.19 




20.4 
8.16 

9.41 





8.45 
3.38 

3.90 




3.01 
1.20 

.94 



NUGGET, JETT, AND MORNING CALL CREEKS. 

Nugget Creek rises north of the Nugget divide between the Grand 
Centra] River and Nome River drainage basins, and discharges its 
waters into Grand Central River about 2 miles above Salmon Lake. 
Its only tributary is Copper Creek. Jett and Morning Call creeks 
rise in the high ridge just north of Salmon Lake and flow northward, 
entering Grand Central River near its mouth. All three streams are 
torrential, and their continuous flow is maintained by rains that 
fall after the snow has melted. The basin of Nugget Creek faces the 
south and therefore does not retain the winter snows so long as the 
others, which face the north. Morning Call Creek flows for some 
distance over limestone, into which a large part of the flow sinks, to 



KEUZGAMEPA BIVEE DEAINAGE BASIN. 



173 



reappear as springs at an elevation of about 750 feet. The discharge 
of Nugget Creek is diverted by the Grand Central branch, and that 
of Jett and Nugget creeks by the Jett Creek branch of the Miocene 
ditch. Measurements were made primarily to determine the dis- 
charge of the creek at the points of diversion. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 

The following is a list of miscellaneous measurements made in 
the Grand Central River drainage basin: 

Miscellaneous measurements in Grand Central River drainage basin from 1906 to 1909. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to- 


Locality. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


Dis- 

charge 
per sq. 
raUe. 


July 10,1907 

Sept. 5,1907 
Sept. 4,1909 
June 28,1909 

July 15,1909 
June 18,1906 
June 19,1906 


Spring 


North Fork of 
Grand Cen- 
tral River. 

do 

do 


Near proposed ditch 
intake. 

do 

.do 


Feet. 
850 

850 
850 
800 

800 
786 
785 
785 
785 
785 
785 
785 
785 
785 
785 
600 
600 
800 
800 
800 
800 
800 
700 
700 
700 
700 
700 

700 
700 
800 
800 
800 
500 
900 

900 
700 
700 
700 
500 
600 


Sec.-ft. 
3.8 

7.6 
4.6 
8.0 

3.1 

1.8 

1.6 

4.4 

.96 

6.8 

3.0 

8.6 

6.8 

6.1 

4.4 

15.6 

19.0 

8.7 

2.8 

6.6 

2.4 

9.4 

3.8 

6.9 

11.6 

11.3 

14.9 

4.4 
14.3 

5.8 
8.3 
4.2 
10.0 
2.5 

.0 
36 
10.0 
21 
27 
3.4 


Sq. mi. 


Sec.-ft. 


do 

do 

Thumit Creek. 

do 

Nugget Creek.. 

'.'.'.'.'.dl'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

Copper Creek. . 

do.... 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

Jett Creek 

do 

do 

do 

do 

.do 










. Grand Central 
River. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

Nugget Creek . 

"...do".'.'.'.'.'. 

do 


Near ditch intake 

do 

Above Miocene intake. 
do 


0.73 

.73 

2.1 

2.1 

2.1 

2.1 

2.1 

2.1 

2.1 

2.1 

2.1 

2.1 

6.4 

5.4 
.85 
.85 
.85 
.85 
.85 

1.2 

1.2 

1.2 

1.2 

1.5 

1.5 
1.5 
1.4 
1.4 
1.4 
2.6 
1.32 

1.32 

1.90 

1.90 

1.90 

3.9 

L81 


n.o 

4.25 

.86 
.76 


June 21,1906 
June 28,1906 
July 12,1906 
Aug. 11,1906 
Aug. 29,1906 
Sept. 2,1906 
Sept. 7,1906 
Sept. 14, 1906 
June 19,1906 
June 21,1906 


do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 


2.10 
.46 
3.24 
1.43 
4.10 
3 24 


do 

do 

Below Copper Creek . . 
do 


2.91 
2.10 
2.89 
3.52 


June 19,1906 
July 21,1906 
Aug. 31,1906 
Sept. 10,1906 
July 9, 1907 
June 18 1906 


Above Miocene intake, 
do 


10.2 
3 30 


do 

do 


7.77 
2 82 


do 


do 


11.1 


do 

do 

do 




3 17 


June 19,1906 
June 21 1906 


do 

do 


5.75 
9 62 


July 12,1906 
June 20,1906 

July 2,1906 
July 12,1906 
July 21,1906 
Aug. 31,1906 
Sept. 10, 1906 


do 

Grand Central 
River. 

do 

do 

do 


do 

Near Miocene intake. . . 

do 

do 

do 


9.47 
9.93 

2.93 
9.53 

4 14 


do 

do 


do 

do 

J mile above mouth . . . 
Above Miocene ditch 
level, 
do 


5.93 
3.00 


June 24,1906 


do 


do 


3.85 


June 20,1906 

Aug. 9,1906 
June 20,1906 


Morning Call 
Creek. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

Rainbow Creek 


do 

.. do 


18.9 
.0 


do 

do 

do 

do 

do 




18.9 


July 2,1906 
July 12.1906 
June 24,1906 
June 22,1906 


do 


5.26 


do 

1 mile above mouth . . . 
1 mile above mouth. . . 


11.1 
6.92 
L88 



KRUZGAMEPA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 
DESCRIPTION. 

Kruzgamepa River, locally known as Pilgrim River, rises in Salmon 
Lake, at an elevation of 442 feet, and has a total length of about 45 
mxiles. It flows northeastward and northward for about 18 miles to 
a point 8 miles southeast of Shelton, where it swings westward and 



174 SUEFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

crosses aflat lowland basin north of the Kigluaik Mountains, finding its 
outlet in Imuruk Basin. Grand Central and Kruzgamepa rivers really 
form but one stream, but they are known by different names, and as 
their physical features are somewhat variant they have been treated 
separately in this report. 

The upper portion of Kruzgamepa River and Salmon Lake occupy 
a broad valley filled with gravel and other glacial debris to an un- 
known depth. The lake is of glacial origin and has an area of 1,860 
acres at its present level. If raised to a level of 475 feet^ it would 
cover 3,610 acres, and at 500 feet 4,620 acres. The glacier which 
formed it left a mass of morainic material at the lower end, through 
which the river has cut a narrow gap about 150 feet wide at the river 
level and 500 feet wide 30 feet higher. 

Fox and Jasper creeks are the only important tributaries of Salmon 
Lake proper. About 4 miles below the lake, south of the mountains, 
Crater Creek enters the river from the northwest. This creek rises 
in glacial cirques and flows through a gravel-filled U-shaped valley 
with a heavy fall, especially near the head. Some of the mountaias 
comprising the main ridge of this portion of the Kigluaik Mountains 
reach an elevation of nearly 4,000 feet. Crater Creek resembles 
Grand Central River ui most of its characteristics, and its flow is 
approximately equal to that of Grand Central River below the forks. 
Grouse, Big, and Homestake creeks, which are much smaller than 
Crater Creek, also enter the main stream from the northwest. Slate, 
Iron, and Sherette creeks are the only important streams entering 
from the southeast. 

North of the mountains the river follows a meandering course 2 
or 3 miles north of morainic foothills which flank the slopes of the 
Kigluaik Range. This area of high elevation is drained by Pass, 
Smith, Grand Union, Osborn, and several unnamed creeks. 

On the upper end of the river the ice usually breaks up about 
May 20. Lower down it remains frozen until a somewhat later date. 
The lake outlet does not freeze until December, but farther down- 
stream ice forms overflows much earlier. Before spring these over- 
flows work upstream almost to the lake and reach a depth of 15 feet 
or more in places. 

Mining operations have been carried on along Iron, Slate, and 
Homestake creeks, but Iron Creek is the only stream which has pro- 
duced any considerable amount of gold. 

Salmon Lake provides an excellent storage reservoir for developing 
power and for mining along Kruzgamepa River. The use of its water 
in the vicinity of Nome is practically impossible, owing to its low ele- 
vation and the long tunnel which would be necessary to bring the water 
through the Nugger divide into the Nome River basin. By raising 
the water of the lake to an elevation of 500 feet the shortest tunnel 
line would be between 5 and 6 miles long, and if any allowance were 



KRUZGAMEPA RIVEE DRAINAGE BASIN. 175 

made for drawing on the storage water could not be brought through 
to the Nome Valley at an elevation greater than about 450 feet. The 
mouth of the tunnel would be near Dorothy Creek, and the loss in 
grade between that point and Nome would bring the water so low 
that it could not be used to any extent for hydraulicking. Even if 
the water could be brought to the vicinity of Nome under a sufficient 
head for hydraulicking, the great cost and difficulty of building so 
long a tunnel would make the feasibility of the plan very doubtful. 
The possibility of using water from Salmon Lake for the development 
of powder was investigated during 1905 and 1906, but for various 
reasons the project was not taken up. The general features and value 
of this power development are discussed on page 252. 

Kruzgamepa River is one of the best power streams in Seward 
Peninsula on account of the availability of good dam sites. Aside 
from the site at Salmon Lake, there is one just below the mouth of 
Crater Creek and one below Iron Creek, but power has never been 
developed on account of the distance of transmission, the cost of 
installation, and the uncertainty of the market. 

The following gaging stations have been maintained on Kruzga- 
mepa River and its tributaries: 

Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Salmon Lake, 1906-1910. 

Kruzgamepa River above Iron Creek, 1908. 

Dome Creek below Hardluck Creek, part of 1907, 

Iron Creek below Canyon Creek, part of 1907. 

Iron Creek above the tunnel, 1908-9. 

Iron Creek at mouth, 1909. 

Iron Creek flume at intake, 1909. 

Pass Creek below the dam site, 1908-1910. 

Smith Creek below Swift Creek, parts of 1908-9. 

KRUZGAMEPA RIVER AT OUTLET OF SALMON LAKE. 

This station was established May 28, 1906, by J. P. Samuelson. 
A standard gage was installed June 23 and records have been kept 
during the greater part of each season since that date. It is located 
just below the outlet of Salmon Lake and the records show the total 
outflow available for storage and power development. Measuriug 
conditions here are excellent. All low-water measurements were 
made by wading. High-water measurements were made by floats 
in 1906 and in the early part of 1907. On June 28, 1907, a cable 
was installed near the gage and was used for high-water measure- 
ments during the remainder of that year. The channel shifts 
slightly during extreme floods, but remained practically perma- 
nent from 1908 to 1910. As the flood records at this point are of 
especial value on account of the possibility of storage, an effort was 
made to begin the readings as early in the spring as possible. A 
little surface ice forms at the station during November, but the read- 
ings of the gage are not affected materially until about the middle 



176 



SUKFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



of December. During the winter the river does not freeze to the 
bottom, as many other streams in this section do, so that when the 
water begins to run in the spring the ice is lifted and carried away, 
leaving the channel clear. 

The maximum recorded discharge of 4,300 second-feet occurred 
during the flood of September, 1910, probably on the 8th. The 
lowest recorded discharge was 51 second-feet in December, 1909. 
The absolute minimum should occur about April 1 and is probably 
a little less than 40 second-feet in ordinary years. 

Separate tables of gage heights and discharges are given for the 
station for the reason that the periods covered by records in 1908 to 
1910 are too long to permit the data to be placed in a single table. 

The fact that storage is available in Salmon Lake makes the deter- 
mination of the total yearly run-off at this station desirable. The 
discharge for missing periods of each year has been estimated* and a 
summary of monthly discharge, includiag totals in acre-feet, follows the 
tables showing daily gage height and discharge. In order to show 
the natural discharge of the drainage area the quantity of water di- 
verted over the Nugget divide into the Nome Kiver basin has been 
added to the monthly discharge determined from the records at the 
station. A table is also included to indicate the available storage 
in Salmon Lake in acre-feet for each foot of rise in the lake surface 
between elevations 442 and 501 feet. 

Discharge measurements o/Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Salmon Lahefrom 1906 to 1910. 

[Elevation, 442 feet.] 



May 28 a.. 
May 29 ». . 
May 31ffl.. 
Junelo... 
June 23... 
June 29. . . 
June 30. . . 
July9&... 
Do... 
July 10&.. 
Aug. 4.... 
Aug. 15... 
Aug. 25. . . 
Aug. 26. . . 
Aug. 28. . . 
Sept. 1... 
Sept. 7. . . 
Sept. 17. . 
Sept. 21 &. 
Sept. 23 6. 
Sept. 24 b. 



June 16 &. 
June 176. 
June 28.. 



Date. 



1906. 



1907. 



Gage 


Dis- 


height. 


charge. 


Feet 


Sec.-ft. 


5.45 


3,450 


5.00 


3,140 


3.60 


2,350 


3.05 


1,910 


1.22 


425 


1.00 


353 


.93 


315 


3.18 


2, 340 


3.02 


2,090 


2.68 


1,760 


.38 


212 


.37 


209 


.70 


312 


.80 


371 


1.02 


458 


.85 


373 


.52 


248 


.27 


175 


2.38 


1,550 


2.06 


1,120 


1.80 


925 


2.97 


2,050 


2.56 


1,640 


1.88 


1,020 



June 28. 
July 2.. 
July 4.. 
July 14.. 
Auf-. 2.. 
Auj. 14. 
Aug. 23. 
Sept. 6. . 
Sept. 11. 
Sept. 12. 
Sept 20. 



July 16. 

Sept. 5.. 
Sept. 27. 
Oct. 2. . 
Oct. 3.. 



July 19. 
Sept. 1. 
Sept. 5. 



Sept. 23. 



Date. 



1907. 



1908. 



1909. c 



1910. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.78 
1.56 
1.30 
1.37 
.65 
.39 



2.52 

2.19 

.76 



1.52 
1.09 
1.07 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
991 
751 
567 
616 
304 
232 
438 
330 
1,520 
1,310 
358 



148 
220 
110 



237 
124 
117 



1,050 



a Float measurements by J. P. Samuelson. 
b Partial float measurements. 

c During October to December, 1908, and throughout 1909 the datum of the gage was 1.0 (ootlQvw than 
sit other periods^ 



KEUZGAMEPA EIVEK DEAINAGE BASIN". 



177 



Daily gage height, in feet, of Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Salmon Lake for 1906-1910. 

[Observers, J. P. Samuelson and M. Donworth, 1906-7; J. Jacobsen, 1908, 1910; J. Jacobsen and A. W. 

Peterson, 1909.] 



Day. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Day. 


.June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


1906. 
1 




3.05 
3.75 
3.90 
4.20 
3.75 

3.20 
2.45 


0.82 
.72 
.70 
.70 
.80 

1.10 
1.10 
1.92 
3.05 
2.60 

2.20 
1.95 
1.85 
1.55 
1.45 

1.25 

1.12 

1.08 

.98 

.90 

.82 
.85 
.82 
.85 
.82 

.80 
.72 
.70 
.62 
.55 
.50 


0.48 
.42 
.38 
.36 
.38 

.38 
.40 
.40 
.40 
.36 

.35 
.35 
..36 
.34 
.36 

.35 
.32 
.30 

.26 
.32 

.39 
.42 
.66 
.71 
.70 

.76 
.90 
1.02 
1.05 
.99 
.94 


0.86 
.81 
.74 
.69 
.65 

.60 
.53 
.49 
.46 
.41 

.39 
.37 
.34 
.31 
.30 

.28 
.26 
.27 
.52 
1.34 

2.35 
2.40 
2.11 
1.78 
1.58 

1.38 

1.22 

1.08 

.98 

.88 




1907. 
1 




1.70 
1.58 
1.44 
1.28 
1.20 

1.20 
al.50 
al.45 
al.40 
al.35 

al.30 

ol. 25 

al.30 

1.35 

1.26 

1.15 
1.10 
1.02 
1.00 
1.00 

1.18 
1.18 
1.11 
1.08 
1.05 

1.02 
.98 
.80 
.72 
.62 
.60 


0.69 
.65 
.62 
.61 
.60 

.55 
.48 
.45 
.45 
.44 

.44 
.42 
.40 
.40 
.38 

.40 
.69 
.94 
.97 
.90 

.88 
.90 
.89 
.82 
.78 

.80 
.88 
.84 
.86 
1.18 
1.20 


1.14 

1.00 

.90 

.82 

.77 

.73 

.62 
.58 
.71 
1.25 

2.50 
2.26 
1.98 
1.59 
1.40 

1.26 

1.10 

.98 

.86 

.74 

.72 
.62 
.54 
.54 
.50 

.48 
.46 
.42 
.38 
.34 


0.30 


2 




2 




.23 


3 




3 




.21 


4 




4 




.20 


5 . 




5 . 




.19 


6 




6 






7 




7 






8 




8 






9 






9 






10 






10 






11 






11 






12. ... 






12. 






13 






13 






14 






14 






15 






1 15 

16 

17... 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 


3.30 

2.99 
2.47 
2.72 
3.02 
2.80 

2.32 

2.08 
2.00 
2.08 
2.22 

2.30 
2.28 
2.12 
1.95 
1.78 




16 








17 








18. . 








19 








20 








21 








22. 








23 




1.20 
1.25 
1.20 

1.12 
1.10 
1.05 
1.02 
.92 




24. . . 






25 






26 






27 






28 

29 

30 

31 


5.45 
5.00 
4.05 
3.60 















Day. 



June. 



July. 



0.95 
.90 

.85 
.75 
.70 

.60 
.55 
.50 
.45 
.40 

.40 
.45 



.35 



Aug. 



0.75 
.70 
.60 
.t.O 

1.05 

1.15 

1.00 

.90 

.75 



Sept. 



0.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 

.45 
.40 
.40 
.40 
.35 



Oct. 



61.03 

.97 

1.00 

1.02 

1.06 

1.00 
.98 



.95 

.94 
.92 
.91 
.88 
.90 



Nov. 



0.86 
.80 
.85 
.85 
.85 

.84 
.84 
.84 
.84 
.84 

.84 
.84 
.85 
.85 
.85 



Dec. 



.84 



.84 



Day. 



1908. 
16... 
17... 
18... 
19... 
20... 



21.. 
22.. 
23.. 
24.. 
25.. 



June. 



1.30 
1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.10 

1.15 
1.10 
1.15 
1.05 
1.00 



July. 



Aug. 



0.30 
.30 
.30 
.25 
.20 

.25 
.20 
.20 
.20 
.15 

.15 
.10 
.00 
.00 
.10 
.55 



0.80 
.75 
.65 
.65 
.65 

.60 
.60 
.60 
.65 
.70 

.70 
.65 
.60 
.60 
.55 
.50 



Sept. 



0.30 
..30 
.30 
.30 
.25 

.25 
.25 
.20 
.10 
.05 

.00 
.05 
.04 
.03 
.03 



Oct. 



90 



90 



Nov. 



0.86 

.8ti 

.m 

.85 
.85 

.85 
'.'85' 



.85 



Dec. 



a Estimated on a basis of rainfalL 
63851°— wsp 314—13 12 



b Datum lowered 1 foot. 



178 



SUEFAOB WATEB SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, of Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Salmon Lake for 1906-1910 — 

Continued. 



Day. 


May. 


June. 


Jnly. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Deo. 


1909. 
1 






2.44 
2.41 
2.40 
2.34 
2.28 

2.30 
2.26 
2.19 
2.12 
2.09 

2.00 
1.96 
1.90 
1.80 
1.69 

1.62 
1.57 
1.51 
1.48 
1.48 

1.39 
1.35 
1.28 
1.25 
1.26 

1.25 
1.25 
1.21 
1.15 
1.11 
1.10 


1.11 
1.10 
1.06 
1.12 
1.14 

1.16 
1.11 
1.04 
1.08 
1.34 

J. 32 
1.30 
1.30 
1.29 
1.30 

1.22 
1.23 
1.25 
1.24 
1.25 

1.23 
1.21 
1.18 
1.16 
1.14 

1.13 
1.08 
1.08 
1.11 
1.16 
1.12 


1.09 
1.06 
1.05 
1.04 
1.07 

1.07 
1.06 
1.05 
1.03 
1.03 

1.03 
1.03 
1.03 
1.03 
1.01 

1.01 
.98 
.95 
.94 
.95 

.98 
1.00 
1.04 
1.00 

.99 

.97 
.96 
.95 
.93 
.92 


0.90 
.90 
.88 
.87 
.86 

.85 
.84 
.84 
.85 
.76 

.75 
.75 
.75 
.74 
.75 

.75 
.70 
.72 
.70 
.70 

.70 
.68 
.66 
.68 
.75 

.80 
.85 
.90 
.90 
.85 
.80 


0.80 
.78 

!76 
.75 

.75 
.74 
.74 
.73 
.74 

.74 
.75 
.75 
.74 
.73 

.73 
.72 
.72 
.72 
.72 

.70 
.70 
.69 
.69 
.68 

.68 
.08 




2 






0.66 


3 




2.90 
2.81 
2.84 

2.80 
2.88 
2.82 
2.78 




4 






5 






6 






7 






8:::::::::::::::::.. 






9 






lo::::::::::::::::::.- 




.65 


11 








12 








13 








14 




2.83 
2.81 

2.82 
2.83 
2.88 
2.84 
2.82 

2.75 
2.70 
2.69 
2.75 
2.62 

2.40 
2.30 
2.30 
2.58 
2.50 




15 






16 






17 




.65 


18 






19 ... 






20 






21 






22 






23 






24 






25 


3.50 




26 




27 






28 






29 








30 








31 




















Day. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Day. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


1910. 
1.... 




1.C5 
1.70 
1.75 
1.75 
1.70 

1.72 
1.78 
1.82 
1.69 
1.66 

1.52 
1.40 
1.24 
1.16 
1.10 


2.88 
2.82 
2.72 
2.62 
2.51 

2.40 
2.24 
2.14 
1.94 
1.80 

1.54 
1.46 
1.42 
1.44 

i.-'sn 


1.34 
1.30 
1.34 
1.34 
1.26 

1.16 
1.13 
1.08 
1.04 
.96 

.89 
.85 
.92 
1.00 
1.18 


0.85 
.94 
.98 
.90 
.86 

.88 
2.50 
5.00 


1.01 

.88 
.81 
.74 
.64 

.57 
.52 
.48 
.44 
.41 

.37 
.34 
.31 
.28 
.24 


0.10 
.10 
.09 
.09 
.08 

.07 


1910. 
16 




1.00 
.90 
.88 
.76 
.67 

1.04 
1.32 
1.52 
1.74 
1.82 

1.87 
1.98 
2.26 
2.50 
2.82 


1.54 
1.56 
1.54 
1.68 
1.62 

1.75 
1.90 
2.00 
2.04 
2.00 

1.97 
1.89 
1.78 
1.61 
1.52 
1.42 


1.44 

1.61 
1.66 
1.56 
1.40 

1.26 

1.12 

1.02 

.95 

.86 

.81 
.80 
.77 
.74 
.7J 






■i."73' 

2.40 

'i.'ss" 

1.63 
1.46 
1.22 


0.22 
.20 

20 




2 




17.... 

18 







3 




. 


4 .. 




19 




.19 1 


5 




20 




18 1 


6 ... 




21.... 
22 




.17! . 






15 i 


8 




23.... 
24 




.14 
.14 
.13 

.13 

.12 




9 






10 




25.... 

26.... 
27.... 
28.... 
29.... 
30. . . . 
31.... 


1.45 

1.35 
1.45 
1.55 
1.65 
1.65 




11 ... 






12 






13 ... 




.12 


14 




.12 1 


15 




.11 1 














1. 


55 


.7 


3 




.11 





KEUZGAMEPA EIVEK DRAIITAGE BASIN. 



179 



Daily discharge, in second-feet, ofKruzgamepa River at outlet of Salmon Lake for 1906-1910. 

[Drainage area, 84 square miles.] 



Day. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Day. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1906. 




1,920 
2,760 
2,950 
3,360 
2,760 

2,080 
1,320 
1,260 
1,210 
1,150 

1,100 

1,040 

985 

929 

873 


272 
241 
235 
235 
265 

380 

380 

1,030 

2,130 

1,640 

1,280 

1,060 

985 

768 

702 


239 
221 
209 
203 
209 

209 
215 
215 
215 
203 

200 
200 
203 
197 
202 


387 
364 
336 
316 
300 

280 
256 
242 
233 
218 

212 
206 
197 
188 
185 


1906. 
16 




817 
761 
705 
649 
593 

537 
481 
425 
448 
425 

389 
380 
360 
348 
308 




582 
511 
490 
441 
405 

369 
382 
369 
382 
369 

360 
328 
320 
283 
262 
245 


200 
197 
185 
175 
191 

212 
221 
304 
324 
320 

344 
405 
460 
475 
446 
423 


180 


2 




17 




175 


3 




18 




178 


4 




19 




252 


5 




20 




634 


6 




21 




1,410 


7. 




22 




1,460 


g 




23 




1,200 


9 




24 




930 


10 




25 




787 


11 




26 




658 


12. 




27 




566 


13 




28 

29 

30 

31 


3,450 
3,140 
2,580 
2,350 


490 


14 




441 


15 




396 









Day. 


June. 


July. 


Aug, 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Day. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


1907. 
1 




875 
791 
696 
599 
555 

555 
735 
702 
670 
640 

610 

582 
610 
640 
588 


326 
312 
302 
298 
295 

280 
259 
250 
250 
247 

247 
241 
235 
235 
229 


522 

450 
405 
373 
354 

340 
302 
289 
334 
582 

1,560 

1,330 

],090 

798 

670 


205 
188 
182 
180 
178 


1907. 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 


2,040 
1,530 
1,770 
2,070 
1,850 

1,390 
1,180 
1,110 
1,180 
1,300 

1,370 
1,350 
1,210 
1,070 
935 


528 
500 
460 
450 
450 

544 
544 
511 
490 
475 

460 
441 
365 
337 
302 
295 


235 
326 
423 
436 
405 

397 
405 
401 
373 
358 

365 
397 
381 
389 
544 
1555 


588 
500 
441 
389 
344 

337 
302 
277 
277 
265 

259 
253 
241 
229 
217 




2 






3 






4 






5 






6 






7 








g 








9.. 








10 








11 








12 








13 








14 








15 


2,360 














\ 









Day. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Day. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec 



1908. 
1.... 
2.... 



375 
355 
335 
295 
275 

242 
226 
210 
196 
182 

182 
196 
182 
182 
169 



295 
275 
242 
242 
418 

465 
395 
355 
295 
258 

258 
315 
335 
335 
335 



210 
210 
210 
210 
210 

196 
182 
182 
182 



156 
156 
156 
156 
156 



68 



16... 
17.., 
18... 
19... 
20... 

21... 
22... 
23... 
24... 
25... 

26... 
27... 
28... 
29... 
30... 
31... 



550 
465 
465 
465 
440 

4G5 
440 
465 
418 
395 



156 
156 
156 
144 
132 

144 
132 
132 
132 
121 

121 
110 
92 
92 
110 
226 



315 
295 
258 
258 
258 

242 
242 
242 
258 
275 

275 
258 
242 
242 
226 
210 



156 
156 
156 
156 
144 

144 

144 
132 
110 
101 

92 
101 
99 
97 
97 



68 



180 



SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



Daily discharge^ in second-feet, of Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Salmon Lake for 1906- 

19^0— Continued. 



Day, 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


1909. 
1 




1,000 
980 
980 
917 
938 

910 

966 
924 
896 
903 

910 
917 
924 
931 
917 

924 
931 

966 
938 
924 

875 
840 
833 
875 
784 

650 
590 
590 
758 
710 


674 
656 
650 
614 
579 

590 
568 
530 
491 
475 

430 
412 
385 
340 
296 

272 
255 
235 
226 
226 

198 
187 
168 
160 
163 

160 
160 
150 
136 
127 
125 


127 
125 
117 
130 
134 

139 
127 
113 
121 
184 

179 
173 
173 
170 
173 

153 
156 
160 
158 
160 

156 
150 
143 
139 
134 

132 
121 
121 
127 
139 
130 


123 
117 
115 
113 
119 

119 
117 
115 
111 
111 

111 
111 
111 
111 
107 

107 
101 
96 
94 
96 

101 
105 
113 
105 
103 

100 
98 
96 
92 
91 


87 
87 
84 
82 
81 

79 
77 
77 
79 
65 

64 
64 
64 
63 
64 

64 
57 
60 
57 
57 

57 
55 
52 
55 
64 

71 
79 
87 

87 
79 
71 


71 
68 
67 
65 
64 

64 
63 
63 
61 
63 

63 
64 
64 
63 
61 

61 

60 
60 
60 
60 

57 
57 
56 
56 
55 

55 
55 
54 
54 
53 


53 


2 




52 


3. 




52 


4 . 




52 


5 




52 


6 




52 


7 




51 


8 




51 


9 




51 


10 




51 


11 




51 


12 




51 


13 




51 


14 




51 


15 




51 


16 




51 


17 




51 


18 






19 






20 


100 

300 
500 
700 
900 
1,100 

1,100 
1,100 
1,100 
1,000 
1,000 
1,000 




21 - . 




22 




23 




24 




25 




26 




27 




28 




29 




30 




31 














Day. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Day. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


1910. 
1 




600 
630 
740 
740 
a 800 

854 
896 
924 
833 
812 

722 
650 
557 
513 
480 


1,880 
1,820 
1,720 
1,620 
1,520 

1,420 
1,280 
1,190 
1,010 
910 

734 

686 
662 


614 

590 
614 
614 
568 

513 
496 
470 
450 
412 

380 
362 
394 
430 
524 


362 
403 
421 
385 
367 

376 
1,510 
4,300 
3,300 
2,400 

1,700 

1,200 

800 

600 

450 


435 
376 
344 
316 
279 

255 
239 
226 
213 
204 

193 
184 
17ft 


125 
125 
123 
123 
121 

119 
...... 


1910. 

J?:::: 

18-... 
19.... 
20.... 

21.... 
22.... 
23.... 
24.... 
25.... 

26.... 
27.... 
28.... 
29.... 
30.... 
31.... 


60 
150 
150 
150 
210 

210 
210 
290 
370 
450 

410 

450 
520 


430 
385 
376 
324 
292 

450 
602 

722 
868 
924 

959 
1,040 
1,290 
1,510 
1,820 


734 

746 
734 

758 

784 

875 

980 

1,060 

L,100 

1,060 

L,040 
973 

896 
777 
722 
662 


674 
777 
812 
746 
650 

568 
491 
440 
408 
367 

344 
340 

328 


395 
340 
300 
260 
225 

250 

300 

861 

1,420 

2,000 

1,400 
966 
791 
686 
546 


153 
148 
148 
146 
143 

141 
136 
134 
134 
132 

132 
130 




2 ... 






3 






4 






5 






6 






7 






8 






g 






10 






11 






12 






13 .. 






14.... 
15.... 


a 40 
40 


e 


74 
10 


16 
15 


8 

s 


5 
5 
4 


30 
30 
30 


3ie 

304 
30C 






130 
127 
127 





a Discharge was affected by ice, and the values are estimated. 



KBUZGAMEPA RIVER DRAIITAGE BASIN". 



181 



Monthly discharge of Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Salmon Lake, 1906 to 1910. 
[Drainage area, 84 square miles.] 





Discharge in second-feet. 


Rvm-ofE. 


Month. 


Maximum. 


Minimum. 


Mean. 


Per 
square 
mile. 


Depth in 

inches on 

drainage 

area. 


Total in 
acre-feet. 


1906. 
January 






80 

GO 

50 

50 

888 

1,110 

575 

266 

466 

210 

110 

90 


0.95 

.71 

.60 

.60 

10.6 

13.2 

6.85 

3.17 

5.55 

2.50 

1.31 

1.07 


1.10 

.74 

.69 

.67 

12.19 

14.73 

7.90 

3.66 

6.19 

2.88 

1.46 

1.23 


4,920 
3,330 
3,070 
2,980 
54,600 








March 






April 






May . 


3,450 
3,360 
2, 130 

475 
1,460 

390 


a 50 
308 
235 
175 
175 


June 


66, 000 


July ... 


35, 400 


August 


16, 400 


September 


27, 700 


October 


12,900 
6,540 
5,530 






December 












The year 


3,450 




330 


3.92 


53.44 


239,000 






1907. 
January. . 






70 

60 

50 

40 

507 

1,870 

555 

347 

489 

150 

90 

70 


.83 

.71 

.60 

.48 

6.04 

22.3 

6.61 

4.13 

5.82 

1.79 

1.07 

.83 


.96 

.74 

.69 

.54 

6.96 

24.88 

7.62 

4.76 

6.49 

2.06 

1.19 

.96 


4,300 


February 






3,330 

3,070 

2,380 

31, 200 








April 






May 


o2,500 

2,600 

875 

555 

1,560 

205 


O40 
935 

295 
229 
217 


June 


111,000 


July 


34, 100 


August 


21,300 


September 


29,100 


October 


9,220 






5,360 
4,300 


December. 












The year 


2,600 




358 


4.27 


67.85 


259, 000 








1908. 






60 

50 

50 

40 
413 
732 
188 
299 
161 

80.0 

68.1 

65 


.71 

.60 

.60 

.48 

4.92 

8.71 

2.24 

3.56 

1.92 

.95 

.81 

.77 


.82 

.65 

.69 

.54 

5.67 

9.72 

2.58 

4.10 

2.14 

1.10 

.90 

.89 


3,690 


February 






2,880 

3,070 

2,380 

25,400 

43,600 


March 






April. . 






MSy.::::::::::::::::::::::: 


a 1, 100 

a 1, 100 

375 

465 

210 

103 

70 

67 


o40 
395 
92 
210 
92 
72 
67 


June 


July 


11, 600 


August 


18,400 


September 


9,580 


October 


4,920 


November 


4,050 


December 


4,000 








The year 


1,100 




184 


2.19 


29.80 


134, 000 








1909. 
January 






60 

50 

40 

40 
348 
874 
349 
149 
108 

70.0 

60.6 

50 


.71 

.60 

.48 

.48 

4.14 

10.4 

4.15 

1.77 

1.29 

.83 

.72 

.60 


.82 

.62 

.55 

.54 

4.77 

11.60 

4.78 

2.04 

1.44 

.96 

.80 

.69 


3,690 


February 






2,780 


March 






2,460 


April 






2,380 


mSv. :. 


1,100 
1,000 
674 
184 
123 
87 
71 
53 


40 
590 
125 
113 
91 
52 
53 


21,400 

52,000 

21,500 

9,160 


Julie 


July 


August 


September 


6,430 


October 


4,300 


November 


3,610 


December 


3,070 








The year 


1,100 




183 


2.18 


29.61 


133,000 






1910. 
January 






50 

45 

40 

40 

188 

758 

1,020 

493 

977 

192 

91 

60 


.60 

.54 

.48 

.48 

2.24 

9.02 

12.1 

6.87 

11.6 

2.29 

1.08 

.71 


.69 

.56 

.55 

.54 

2.58 

10.06 

14.00 

6.77 

12.97 

2.64 

1.20 

.82 


3,070 


February 






2,500 


March 






2,460 


April 






2, 380 


mSv . : ; 


560 
1,820 
1,880 

812 
4,300 

435 

125 


o40 
292 
662 
300 
225 
127 

o65 


11,600 
45, 100 
62,700 




July 


August 


30,300 
58, 100 


September 


October 


11,800 


November 


5,410 


December 


3,690 










The year . 


4,300 




330 


3.92 


53.38 


239,000 







182 SURFACE WATEB SUPPLY OF SEWABD PENINSULA. 

Storage available at Salmon Lake for each foot of rise between elevations 442 and 501 feet. 



Eleva- 
tion. 


Storage. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Storage. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Storage. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Storage. 


Feet. 


Acre-feet. 


Feet. 


Acre-feet. 


Feet. 


Acre-feet. 


Feet. 


Acre-feet. 


442 





457 


32,900 


472 


86,500 


487 


134,000 


443 


1,860 


458 


35,500 


473 


89,900 


488 


138,000 


444 


3,780 


459 


38,200 


474 


93,300 


489 


142,000 


445 


5,720 


460 


40,900 


475 


96,800 


490 


146,000 


446 


7,750 


461 


43,700 


476 


100,000 


491 


150,000 


447 


9,800 


462 


46,500 


477 


104,000 


492 


154,000 


448 


11,900 


463 


49,400 


478 


108,000 


493 


159,000 


449 


14,000 


464 


52,300 


479 


101,000 


494 


163,000 


450 


16,200 


465 


55,300 


480 


105,000 


495 


167,000 


451 


18,400 


466 


58,300 


481 


109,000 


496 


172,000 


452 


20,700 


467 


61,400 


482 


114,000 


497 


176,000 


453 


23,000 


468 


64,500 


483 


118,000 


498 


181,000 


454 


25,400 


469 


67,700 


484 


122,000 


499 


185,000 


455 


27,800 


470 


70,900 


485 


126,000 


500 


190,000 


456 


30,300 


471 


83,200 


486 


130,000 


501 


194,000 



KRUZGAMEPA EIVER ABOVE IRON CREEK. 

This station was established June 22, 1908, to obtain data on the 
flow of lower Kruzgamepa Kiver and especially the flow past the 
lower end of the Iron Creek tunnel. It is half a mile above the 
mouth of Iron Creek and below all tributaries entering the river 
from the south side of the Kigluaik Mountains. No water is diverted 
out of the drainage basin except a small amount from the Nugget 
divide. The gage was located near the junction of two channels, 
which were measured separately by wading; the channel below the 
gage shifted during moderately high water, so that the records are 
only fairly reliable. The minimum recorded discharge for one v/eek 
was 181 second-feet August 23-29, 1908. The discharge for the 
corresponding period at Salmon Lake was 114 second-feet. 

Discharge measurements of Kruzgamepa River above Iron Creek in 1908. 
[Elevation, 248 feet.] 



Date. 



June 22 
June 23 
July!.. 
Julys.. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.65 
1.60 
1.51 
1.10 



charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
592 
597 
512 
322 



Date. 



July 17. 
Aug. 23. 
Sept. 28 
Sept. 30 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.00 
1.80 
1.20 
1.13 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
230 
446 
194 
160 



KETJZGAMEPA RIVEE DRAINAGE BASIN. 



183 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Kruzgamepa River above Iron 

Creek for 1908. 

[Drainage area, 153 square miles. Observer, A. C. Stewart.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 






1.53 
1.42 
1.36 
1.26 
1.21 

1.14 
1.11 
1.10 
1.06 
1.01 

1.02 
1.12 
1.08 
1.03 
1.00 

.99 
.98 
.97 
.96 
.97 

.96 
.93 
.92 
.90 
.87 

.84 
.82 
.82 
.80 
1.27 
2.12 


536 
476 
445 
395 
370 

338 
324 
320 
304 
284 

288 
278 
262 
242 
230 

226 
223 
220 
216 
220 

216 
206 
202 
195 
186 

177 
171 
171 
165 
342 
808 


1.91 
1.73 
1.71 
2.00 
2.12 

1.96 
1.82 
1.81 
1.76 
1.66 

1.71 
1.85 
2.01 
1.91 
1.85 

1.80 
1.76 
1.72 
1.71 
1.74 

1.70 
1.68 
1.75 
1.96 
1.90 

1.86 
1.82 
1.76 
1.74 
1.68 
1.71 


681 
576 
566 
735 
808 

533 
456 
450 
425 
375 

400 

472 
560 
506 
472 

445 
425 
405 
400 
415 

395 
385 
420 
533 
500 

478 
456 
425 
415 
385 
400 


1.82 
1.76 
1.76 
1.73 
1.68 

1.64 
1.60 
1.60 
1.58 
1.52 

1.49 
1.41 
1.41 
1.41 
1.46 

1.50 
1.51 
1.40 
1.40 
1.34 

1.38 
1.36 
1.32 
1.32 
1.28 

1.31 

"i'.ba 

1.16 
1.13 


456 


2 






425 








425 


4 . . 






410 


5 






385 


6 






365 


7 






345 


8 






348 


9 






336 


10 






309 


11 






296 


12 






264 


13 






264 


14 






264 


15 






284 


16 






300 


17 






304 


18 






260 


19 






260 


20 ... . 






236 


21 






252 


22 


1.65 
1.62 
1.64 
1.76 

1.71 
1.78 
1.74 
1.67 
1.69 


602 
586 
597 
663 

636 

674 
652 
614 
570 


244 


23 


228 


24 


228 


25 


214 


26 


224 


27 .... 


207 


28 


190 


29 


178 


30 


169 


31 














Mean 




622 
4.15 

1.39 




291 
1.94 

2.24 




481 
3.21 

3.70 




289 


Mean per square mile 




1.93 


Run-off, depth in inches, on drainage 
area 




2.15 









IRON CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 
DESCRIPTION. 

Iron Creek is the largest tributary of Ejruzgamepa River in point 
of drainage area and is the most important from a miner's standpoint. 
It rises near the head of Willow Creek, a tributary of the Casadepaga, 
and flows in a general northward direction for about 20 miles, enter- 
ing the Kruzgamepa about 12 miles below Salmon Lake. Its basin 
joins that of Eldorado River on the west and that of American 
Creek on the east. It drains an area of 52 square miles, composed 
largely of limestone and schist hills which reach a maximum eleva- 
tion of about 2,300 feet. The elevation at the mouth of Eldorado 
Creek is about 630 feet; at the mouth of Canyon Creek, 450 feet; 
and at its junction with the Kruzgamepa, 248 feet. The naming of 
the main stream is peculiar in that the upper, middle, and lower 
sections bear different titles. The upper portion, above the mouth 
of Eldorado Creek, is known as Telegram Creek. Below Eldorado 
and above Left Fork — a small tributary from the east flowing from the 
sides of Iron Mountain — the stream is designated Dome Creek, and 



184 



SURFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



the remainder of the course constitutes Iron Creek proper. Hard- 
luck Creek is a small tributary of Dome Creek from the east. The 
principal tributaries of Iron Creek are Discovery and Canyon creeks 
from the west. Below Canyon Creek are Pajaro, Rabbit, Sidney, 
Benson, Bobs, Easy, Bertha, and Stella creeks, which are small but 
which produce more or less gold. 

Several ditches have been built to divert the flow of Iron Creek. 
The Gold Beach Development Co. constructed two in 1906. One 
has intakes on Eldorado and Discovery creeks and extends to Discov- 
ery claim, just below the mouth of Discovery Creek. The other has 
its intake on Canyon Creek and delivers water into the same pen- 
stock as the first. The water diverted in this manner was used to a 
small extent for mining in the bed of Iron Creek in 1906-7. Two 
other ditches were begun but never completed. One of these had its 
mtake at the head of Dome Creek. The other project proposed to 
divert water from Rock and Slate creeks, tributaries of Kruzga- 
mepa River, over Matthews Gap at the head of Barney Creak. 

The Golden Gate Mining Co. constructed a ditch and flume line 
from a point about a mile below the mouth of Canyon Creek to Easy 
Creek, but it has fallen into disuse. A small ditch diverts the flow 
of a spring on the south side of Iron Mountain to Easy Creek. 

DOME CREEK BELOW HARDLUCK GREEK. 

Since 1900 Dome Creek, the middle portion of Iron Creek, has been 
the scene of smaU-scale mining operations resulting in a considerable 
production of gold. A ditch was started at the head of the creek in 
1906 by the Gold Beach Development Co., but was never completed. 

Records were begun below Hardluck Creek August 1, 1907, but 
were discontinued because the gage was washed out on August 18. 
A temporary gage was instaUed later and two measurements were 
referred to it. The data are only approximate, as no low- water 
measurements were obtained. 

Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Dome Creek below Hardluck 

Creek for 1907, 

[Drainage area, 12.3 square miles; observer, A. H. Moore.] 





August. 


Date. 


August. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


0.40 
.39 
.38 
.37 
.34 

.31 
.30 
.27 
.24 
.22 


25 
24 
23 
22 
20 

18 
17 
15 
14 
13 


11 


0.20 
.22 
.26 
.26 
.28 

.55 
.70 


12 


2 


12 


13 


3 ... . 


13 


15 


4 


14 


15 


5 


15 


16 


6 


16 


54 


7 


17 


101 


g 


Mean 




9 




24 5 


10 






1.22 




Run-ofl, depth in inches on 




.77 











KBUZGAMEPA EIVER DEAINAGE BASIN, 



185 



IRON CREEK BELOW CANYON CREEK. 

A gaging station was established August 1, 1907, on Iron Creek 
below the mouth of Canyon Creek, and records were obtained during 
the same period as those on Dome Creek. The records, though some- 
what uncertain, are of value as indicating the amount of low-water 
flow in 1907. The discharge at this point is about the same as at the 
station, above the tunnel. 



Daily 



height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Iron Creek below Canyon Creek 
for August, 1907. 

[Drainage area, 38 square miles.] 



Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


2.10 
2.10 
2.10 
2.10 
2.08 

2.08 
2.08 
2.05 
2.02 
2.00 


52 
52 
52 
52 
60 

50 
50 
47 
43 
41 


11 


1.90 
1.90 
1.90 
1.90 
2.00 

2.18 
2.45 


33 


2 


12 


33 


3 


13 


33 


4 


14 


33 


5 


15 


41 


6 


16 .. .... 


62 


7 


17 


100 


g 


Mean 




9 




48.5 


10 


Mean per square mile 




.97 




Run-off, depth in inches on 
drainage area 




.61 











Note.— These discharges are only approximate as no low-water measurements were made. 
IRON CREEK ABOVE THE TUNNEL. 

About half a mile above its mouth Iron Creek makes a bend toward 
the Kruzgamepa and comes within about a quarter of a mile of that 
stream. A tunnel was driven between the two streams during the 
winter of 1907-8 and a flume was constructed in it in 1908-9. The 
difference in water level at the two ends of the tunnel is 29 feet, 13 
feet of which was utilized in constructing the tunnel to a grade of 
1 per cent. It was planned to extend the tunnel and flume under the 
bed of Iron Creek in order to sluice the gold gravel through the flume 
and dispose of the tailings in Kruzgamepa River. 

A gaging station was established June 22, 1908, above the tunnel 
to obtain the amount of water available for sluicing. Records at 
this point are unaffected by diversion and give practically the total 
flow of Iron Creek. During the later part of 1908 the gage heights 
were influenced by the building and raising of a dam to divert the 
water into a canal which carried it away from the tunnel entrance. 
In 1909 the gage was read beginning July 20. The gage heights were 
affected by the deposition of mud and by changes in the dam, so that 
discharges have been obtained by the indirect method. The dis- 
charge at this point for the early part of the season has been com- 
puted from the records kept at the railroad bridge and in the flume. 
The maximum discharge recorded was 1,160 second-feet, June 16, 
1909, at the bridge station. The minimum for one week was 16.9 
second-feet, for September 4 to 10, 1909. 



186 



SUKFACE WATER SUPPLY OP SEWAED PENINSULA. 



Discharge measurements of Iron Creeh above tunnel in 1908 and 1909. 
[Elevation, 280 feet.] 



Date. 



1908, 

June 22 

June 23 

Julyl 

July2 

July9 

July 18 

Aug. 24 

Sept.28 



Gage 

jht. 



teig: 



Feet. 

1.25 

1.37 

1,10 

.98 

.70 

.60 

1.22 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 

100 

118 

70 



Date. 



1908. 
Sepf.29 

1909. 

June 16 o 

July 27 

Aug.31& 

Aug. 31 c 

Sept.46 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.83 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
31 



1,160 
24 
20 
17,4 
16 



o Measured at railroad bridge and 20 second-feet added for flume diversion. The gage height was esti- 
mated from a high- water mark. 
b Measured near mouth. 
c Measured above gage. 

Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Iron Creeh above the tunnel for 

1908-9. 

[Drainage area, 50 square miles. Observers, A. C. Stewart, 1908; George Lorimer, 1909.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1908. 
1 






1.11 
.79 
.82 
.76 
.76 

.76 
.72 
.72 
.70 
.64 

.66 
.66 
.61 
.62 
.58 

.57 
.58 
.56 
.56 
.54 

.54 
.53 
.51 
.50 
.50 

.50 
.51 
.50 
.50 
1.50 
1.72 


73 
39 
42 
37 
37 

37 
34 
34 
32 

28 

29 
29 
26 
26 
24 

23 
24 
23 
23 
21 

21 
21 
20 
19 
19 

19 
20 
19 
19 
146 
202 


1.00 
.80 

.77 
.78 
1.76 

1.16 
.99 
.90 
.88 
.82 

.92 
1.02 
1.11 
1.11 
1.02 

1.15 
.96 
.92 

1.05 
.96 

.92 
.91 
1.19 
1.15 
1.06 

1.00 
.96 
.93 
.92 
.90 

1.06 


59 
40 
38 
38 
213 

70 
52 
44 
43 
38 

46 
55 
64 
64 
56 

68 
49 
46 
58 
49 

46 
45 
73 
68 
59 

53 
49 

47 
46 
44 
59 


1.02 
.98 
.97 
.92 
.90 

.88 
.91 
.91 
.88 
.85 

.99 
.92 
.89 
.86 
.86 

1.02 
1.02 
1.12 
.99 
1.00 

1.04 
.90 
.85 
.95 
.82 

.90 

""".'98' 
.83 


65 


2 






51 


3 






50 


4 






46 


5 






44 


6 






43 


7 . . .... 






45 


8 






45 


9 






43 


10 






40 


11 






40 


12 






36 


13 






34 


14 . . . 






33 


16 






33 


16 






42 


17 






42 


18 






50 


19 






40 


20 






41 


21 






44 


22 


1.34 
1.26 
1.39 
1.32 

1.20 
1.28 
1.27 
1.06 
1.16 


112 
97 
122 
108 

87 
101 
99 
67 
80 


35 


23 


32 


24 


38 


25 


30 


26 


35 


27 


38 


28 


40 


29 


31 


30 


25 


31 














Mean 




97.0 
1.94 

.65 


:::: 


37.6 
.75 

.86 


:::::::: 


77.4 
1.15 

L33 


;::::::: 


40.0 


Mean per sqtiaro milft 




.80 


Run-off, depth in inches on drainage 




.89 









KRUZGAMEPA RIVEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 



187 



Daily gage height, infect, and discharge, in second-feet, of Iron Creek above the tunnel for 

1908-9— Continued. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1909. 
1 








194 
129 
149 
138 
123 

122 
121 
94 
89 
83 

84 
66 
63 
50 
45 

40 
35 
32 

28 

24 

24 
23 
26 
24 
9,S 

23 

27 
26 
24 
20 
22 


0.31 
.30 
.41 
.52 
.42 

.39 
.44 
.38 
.80 
.82 

.63 
.60 
.72 
.65 
.62 

.52 
.50 
.49 
.49 
.48 

.50 
.48 
.47 
.50 
.48 

.40 
.42 
.40 
.45 
.38 
.38 


19 
19 
24 
30 
24 

23 
25 
22 
50 
50 

36 
34 
42 
37 
29 

29 
28 
27 
26 
26 

27 
26 
25 
27 
26 

22 
23 
20 
23 
19 
19 


0.39 
.35 
.37 
.38 
.39 

.35 

.38 
.38 
.38 
.37 

.39 
.41 
.56 
.62 
.61 

.61 
.61 

.55 
.45 
.46 

.42 

.41 


19 


2 . .. . 






:":::: 


17 


3 








18 


4 








17 


5 








17 


6 








16 


7 








17 


8 








17 


9 








17 


10 








17 


11 








17 


12 








18 


13 








25 


14 








23 


16 









23 


16 




1, leo 

51G 
509 
514 
418 

283 
347 
240 
162 

181 
223 
311 
641 
180 


■"'6.' 34' 

.34 
.32 
.39 
.35 
.32 

.32 
.40 
.42 
.40 
.32 
.36 


23 


17 




28 


18 




25 


19. . 




20 


20 




21 


21 




19 


22 




18 


23 






24 








25 








26 








27 








28 








29 








30 








31 


















MftflTl . . 


389 

7.78 

4.34 




63.6 
1.27 

1.46 




27.6 
.552 

.64 




19.6 


Mean per square mile 




.392 


Run-on, depth in inches on drainage 
area 




.32 









IRON CREEK AT MOUTH. 



A gage was established on the Seward Peninsula Railway bridge 
just above the mouth of Iron Creek on June 16, 1909, in order to 
obtain a record of a portion of the spring run-off. The Iron Creek 
flume was diverting water past this station until August 3. Readings 
at this point were used only till July 14, as the records above the tunnel 
are better after this date. Measurements during high water were made 
from the railway bridge and during low water by wading. Meas- 
uring conditions were good and the curve is weU defined from the 
zero value to the maximum discharge. The combined discharge of 
the creek at this station and of the flume are given with the records 
for the station above the tunneL 



188 



SUEFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA, 



Discharge measurements of Iron Creeh at mouth in 1909. 
[Elevation, 248 feet.] 



Date. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 




Feet. 
4.55 
3.60 
1.78 


Sec.-ft. 
1,140 
499 
5.9 


Aug. 31 o 


Feet. 
2.05 
2.05 
2.01 


Sec-ft. 

20.0 


June 17 


Aug. 31 6 


17.4 


July 27o 


Sept. 4 a 


16.0 










a Measured at moi 


ith. 


b Measured above tunnel, 1 mile above mouth. 





Daily gage height, infect, and discharge, in second feet, of Iron Creek at mouth for 1909. 

[Observer, O. E. Wheeler.] 





June. 


July. 


Day. 


June. 


July. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 .. . 






2.88 
2.65 
2.72 
2.68 
2.62 

2.60 
2.60 
2.48 
2.45 
2.42 

2.42 
2.32 
2.30 
2.20 


180 
114 
132 
121 
106 

101 
101 
75 
70 
64 

64 
47 
44 
31 


17 


3.61 
3.60 
3.60 
3.40 

3.10 
3.25 
3.00 
2.78 
2.75 

2.85 
2.95 
3.15 
3.80 
2.S5 


506 
500 
500 
400 

265 
332 
225 
148 
140 

170 

206 
288 
620 
170 






2 






18 






3 




19 






4 




20 

21 






5 








6 


22 






7 .. 






23 






8 






24 






9 






25 






10 






26 














11 .. • .. 


27 






12 






28 






13 .. 






29 






14 






30 






15 






31 








4.55 


1,140 






Mean 










16 




374 




S9.3 















IRON GREEK FLTJME AT INTAKE. 

This station was established June 17, 1909, to determine the 
amount of water diverted by the flume. The gage was located at the 
intake of the flume just above the tunnel entrance, its zero being 
about 0.2 foot above the bottom of the flume. Measurements were 
made at the gage and records were kept until August 3, when the 
flume became blocked by the caving of its walls. It has not been 
reopened. 

Discharge measurements of Iron Creek flume at intake in 1909. 
[Elevation, 280 feet.] 



Date. 



June 17. 
Do. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.45 
.45 



Dis- 
charge, 



Sec.-ft. 
9.64 
9.82 



Date. 



July 20. 
July 27. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.05 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
22.6 
17.2 



KEUZGAMEPA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



189 



Daily gage 


height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Iron Creek fl 
[Observer, George Lorimer.] 


ume at inta 


hefor 


1909. 




June. 


July. 


August. 


Day. 


June. 


July. 


August. 


Day. 


j 


i 

1 


1 


1 

ft 


i 

1 


ft 


1 


6 
ft 


! 


ft 


1 


1 

ft 


1 






0.68 


14.4 
15.2 
17.0 
17.5 
16.6 

20.6 
19.9 
19.4 
19.4 
19.4 

19.6 
19.4 
18.9 
18.9 
19.4 

20.6 


0.82 

.82 
.95 


17.5 
17.5 
20.6 


17 


0.45 
.42 
.68 
.85 

.85 
.70 
.72 
.65 
.62 

.52 

.78 

1.05 

.98 

.45 


9.9 
9.4 
14.4 
18.2 

18.2 
14.8 
15.2 
13.8 
13.2 

11.2 
16.6 
23.0 
21.3 
9.9 


0.95 
.95 
.95 

1.02 

.98 
.95 
.95 
1.00 
.98 

.95 
.95 
.95 

.84 
.80 
.86 


20.6 
20.6 
20.6 
22.3 

21.3 
20.6 
20.6 
21.8 
21.3 

20.6 
20.6 
20.6 
18.0 
17.0 
18.4 






2 








72 
80 
82 
78 

95 
92 
90 
90 
90 

91 
90 

88 
88 


18 






3 






19 






4 






20 






5 










21 


















6 


22 






7 . 










23 






8 










24 






9 . 










25 






10 










26. 


















11 


27 






12 










28... 






13 










29 






14 










30 

31 






15 


















20.0 


,9.5 






Mean. 










16... 




15.3 




19.4 




18.5 

















PASS CREEK BELOW DAM SITE. 

Pass Creek is fairly typical of the creeks on the north side of the 
Kigluaik Range. It rises opposite the heads of Gold Run and Fox 
Creek in a glacial cirque, the flat base of which lies at an elevation of 
about 1,700 feet and contains a small glacier. A difficult but prac- 
ticable pass from the cirque to the head of Gold Run at an elevation 
of about 2,400 feet furnishes the name of the creek. Below the 
cirque is a steep escarpment over which the creek drops nearly 400 
feet into a small lake that fills the valley to the rock walls on either 
side. Below this point the creek has a more gradual grade down 
to a third flat area, which lies 200 feet below the lake and constitutes 
the top of a morainic mass almost all of which extends beyond the 
body of the mountain front. This is bordered by ridges which rise 
200 to 300 feet above this flat on either side in the form of lateral 
moraines of the former glacier. Below the two lakes which occupy 
the lower end of this flat the creek drops about 1,000 feet in less than 
2 miles. Thus Pass Creek combines two favorable factors for the 
development of power — a large amount of concentrated fall and 
feasible storage facilities. There are two dam sites near the lower 
end of the lakes on the third flat. One of these would be suitable 
for a low dam, and the other for a high dam for storing the flow of 
the creek. A project now contemplated involves reenforcing the 
flow of Pass Creek by diverting water from other streams to the west 
and conducting it to the lake by means of a flume and ditch along the 
mountain side. 

The gaging station was established below the lakes on the third 
flat July 10, 1908, and records were kept during parts of three years. 



190 



SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



The gage used in 1908 was located nearly a mile below the lake at a 
much lower elevation, but there is practically no inflow in this dis- 
tance. Another gage was established in 1909 in a permanent rock 
section about 100 feet below the lakes and near the proposed dam site. 
The measxu-ements have all been made near the second gage. Special 
care is required to obtain good results, because measuring conditions 
are poor. The minimum recorded flow of Pass Creek occurs after the 
headwaters freeze, near the end of the mining se^-son. The flow 
probably ceases entirely during the winter. The maximum recorded 
discharge, 190 second-feet on September 7, 1910, is only an approxi- 
mate value, but it is probable that the greatest discharge in the four 
years from 1907 to 19.10 occurred on that date. 

Discharge measurements of Pass Creek below the dam site from 1907 to 1909. 
"> [Elevation, 1,100 feet.] 



Date. 



July 29. 



July 20. . 
Aug. 18. 



1907. 
1908. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



0.90 
1.05 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 
18.1 



23.8 
29.6 



Date. 



1909. 



Aug. 7.. 
Sept. 3.. 
Sept. 19. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.18 
1.05 



Dis- 
charge 



Sec.-ft. 
21.0 
15.7 
7.7 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Pass Creek below the dam site for 

1908-1910. 









[C. F. 


Merritt, 


observer.] 












1908 


1909 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


July. 


August. 


September. 




Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 






1.50 
1.20 
.90 
1.10 
2.00 

1.40 
1.20 
1.10 


60 
39 
22 
33 
101 

53 
39 
33 
31 
31 

31 
76 
46 
28 
39 

33 

28 
30 








10 
15 
20 
32 
29 

26 
21 
17 
41 
38 

34 
30 
32 
34 
30 

26 
22 
21 
20 
20 

20 
20 
19 
18 
15 

15 
16 
16 
22 
28 
25 


1.10 

"'i.'os' 
"'i.'os' 







"'"'.'86" 


17 


2 










1.05 


15 


3 










13 


4 












13 


5 .. . 












15 


6 












15 


7 










1.17 


15 


8 










15 


9 










l.*50 


15 


10 


0.90 


22 

30 
38 
28 
26 
26 

25 

25 
22 
22 
22 

20 
18 
18 
12 
14 

13 
13 
13 
13 
101 
. 101 


"'i'.ih' 

1.30 
1.00 
1.20 

1.10 
1.00 
1.05 






14 


11 








14 


12 










13 


13 










13 


14 








1.40 


12 


15 








12 


16 










11 


17 








1.20 
1.17 
1.15 
1.15 


10 


18 








3 


19 








7 7 


20 


.90 












21 














22 


.80 
.80 
.60 
.70 

.65 
.65 
















23 
















24 






1.10 


17 
16 

15 
14 
13 
12 
11 
10 


1.12 
1.05 

1.05 

"i.'o?" 
""i.'so" 

1.25 






25 










26 












27 












28 












29 














30 


2.0 
2.0 












31 
























Mean 




28.3 




41.8 




13.5 




23.6 




13.0 









Note.— Discharge for days on which gage was not read was obtained by the aid of a hydrograph. 



KKUZGAMEPA RIVEK DEAINAGE BASIN. 



191 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Pass Creek below the dam site for 

1908-1910— GoiitumQ&. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1910. 
1 






1.1 


35 
34 
32 
28 
25 

22 
44 
17 
17 
17 

25 
25 
25 
23 
41 

32 
30 
28 
25 
30 

47 
35 
30 
30 
35 

41 
35 
60 
50 
32 
28 




30 

108 
35 
30 
28 

32 
35 
30 
34 
38 

41 
44 
41 
40 
40 

40 
44 
43 
42 
41 

40 

47 
45 
44 
35 

25 
25 
23 
21 
25 
41 


1.1 

1.15 
1.0 


35 


2 






2.1 


38 


3 






1.05 


30 


4 






1.0 


26 


5 






.9 


.85 

2.3 
2.9 
2.2 
2.0 
1.8 

1.5 
1.3 
1.2 
1.1 


23 


6 






1.05 
1.1 


126 


7 






1.25 
.7 
.7 

.7 

.9 


190 


8 






117 


9 








99 


10 






1.15 

1.2 

1.25 
1.2 


83 


11 






60 


12 






47 


13 






.9 


41 


14 






35 


15 






1.2 

1.05 
1.0 
.95 




30 


16 . 










26 


17 






1.25 




22 


18 . - . 








18 


19 








.6 
.6 

.55 


14 


20 










14 


21 


0.8 
.8 
1.7 


21 
21 
75 
75 
75 

67 
83 
60 
47 
44 


1.3 




13 


22 . . 


1.3 




23 


1.0 
1.0 
1.1 

1.2 






24 


1.25 
1.1 

.9 
.9 

.85 
.8 






25 


1.7 

1.6 

1.8 
1.5 
1.3 
1.25 






26 






27 






28 


1.5 

1.35 

1.05 






29 






30 






31 


1.2 


















Mean 




56.8 




31.5 




38.3 




51.8 















Note. — No measurements were made during 1910, but it is thought that channel conditions and gage 
datum remained the same as in 1909. The discharge for days, with missing gage heights, was estimated 
by a comparison of Smith Creek and Pass Creek gage heights and the natural flow of Nome River at 
Pioneer intake. The discharge for gage heights above 1.5 is only approximate. 



SMITH CREEK BELOW SWIFT CREEK. 

Smith Creek is one of the largest streams on the north side of the 
mountains and probably has a larger discharge at an elevation of 
about 1,100 feet than any other stream in Seward Peninsula. It rises 
in an immense cirque opposite the heads of North Fork of Grand 
Central Kiver and Gold Run. Below the level base of the cirque the 
stream falls with a fairly uniform grade to the flats bordering Kruz- 
gamepa River, so that it affords no storage facilities. Swift Creek is 
a small stream that drains a high cirque west of Smith Creek. 

A gaging station was established July 10, 1908, at a low elevation 
below the foothills. The original gage was washed out by high water 
near the end of July and a new gage, established July 30 at the same 
point, was read during 1909. Measurements were made just below 
Swift Creek in a deep, smooth section of the stream. There is 



192 



SUKFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWABD PENINSULA. 



probably much underground seepage at the gage but not at the 
measuring section. The results are believed to be of fair accuracy. 

Discharge measurements of Smith Creek below Swift Creek from 1907 to 1909. 



Date. 



July 29. 



July 20. 
Aug. 18. 



1907. 



1908. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



1.00 
.70 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 



40 



Date. 



1909, 

Aug. 6 

Sept. 2 

Sept. 3 

Sept. 18 



height. 



Feet. 

0.70 

.54 

.49 

.24 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
37 
22 
19.9 
9.4 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Smith Creek below Swift Creek 

for 1908 and 1909. 

[C. F. Merritt, observer.] 





1908 


1909 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


July. 


August. 


September. 




Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 






1.00 
.90 
.90 
1.00 
1.30 

1.20 
.90 
.80 


77 
64 
64 
77 
124 

108 
64 
51 

48 
48 

48 
140 
92 






0.50 
.55 
.65 
.80 


20 
24 
32 
48 
42 

37 
32 

28 
231 
140 

120 
104 
88 
56 
48 

37 
32 
34 
34 
32 

32 

34 
28 
24 
20 

18 
18 

28 
48 
48 
32 


0.60 
.55 
.50 
.50 

.70 

.65 
.65 
.55 

"".'47" 
.47 

""".■24" 


28 


2 










24 


3 










20 


4 .... 










20 


5 










37 


6 










.70 
.65 
.60 
1.85 
1.40 


32 


7 










32 


8 










24 


9 










23 


10 


0.80 


27" 

58 
80 
36 
36 
36 

34 

35 
36 
38 
47 

36 
27 
27 
19 
19 

23 
16 
16 
16 
171 
137 


""l.'iO 
1.10 
.90 
1.00 

.90 
.80 
.70 






22 


11 






22 


12 










20 


13 









1.10 

1.87 
.80 

.70 
.65 
.67 
.67 
.65 

.65 
.67 
.60 
.55 
.50 

.47 
.47 
.60 
.80 
.80 
.65 


19 


14 




64 

77 

64 
51 
40 






18 


15 








18 


16 








16 


17 








14 


18 








9.4 


19 










20 


1.00 














21 














22 


.80 
.80 
.70 
.70 

.75 
.65 














23 






0.60 


28 
26 
25 

25 
24 
23 
22 
21 
20 






24. . 










25 












26. 












27 












28 












29 














30 


1.80 
1.60 












31 






.50 
















Mean 




44.1 




72.3 





23.8 




50.0 





22.1 









KEUZGAMEPA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



193 



MIDDLE, OSBORN, AND WEST END CREEKS. 

These three streams drain high cirques on the north side of the 
Kigluaik Mountains west of Smith Creek. The two last named rise 
on the north slopes of Mount Osborn. Grand Union Creek lies 
between Middle and Osborn creeks and at its head is a pass leading 
over the range to the head of North Fork of Grand Central Kiver. 
All these streams are similar in a general way to those just described. 

Gages were established on Middle, Osborn, and West End creeks in 
1909, Two measurements were made on each and a few gage read- 
ings were obtained by members of the Survey and by C. F. Merritt. 
The records give a general idea of the discharge available in these 
streams for high-head power development. 

Discharge of Middle, Osborn, and West End creeks in 1909. 

MIDDLE GREEK AT ELEVATION ABOUT 400 FEET. 



Date. 



Measurements. 

Aug. 6 

Sept. 19 

Discharge from gage heights. 

July 23..- 

Aug. 3 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.52 
.04 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
10.0 
2.67 



Date. 



Discharge from gage 
heights— Continued. 

Aug. 6 

Aug. 14 

Aug. 22 

Sept.2 

Sept. 4 

Sept.5 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.55 
.65 
.45 
.34 
.45 
.35 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
10.6 
12.6 
8.6 
6.7 
8.6 



OSBORN CREEK AT ELEVATION ABOUT 900 FEET. 



Measurements. 



Aug. 6. . 
Sept. 20. 



0.56 
.12 



16.3 
6.14 



Discharge from gage heights. 

July 22 

Aug. 3 

Aug. 6 

Aug. 14 

Aug. 22 

Sept. 6 



0.60 
.45 
.55 
.70 
.70 
.50 



17.5 
13.6 
16.2 
20.2 
20.2 
14.8 



WEST END CREEK AT ELEVATION ABOUT 1,050 FEET. 



Measurements. 



Aug. 6.. 
Sept. 20. 



0.05 
-.17 



15.4 
6.18 



Discharge from gage heights 

July 22 

Aug. 3 

Aug. 6 

Aug. 14 

Aug. 22 

Sept. 6 



0.20 
.05 
.05 
.25 
.20 
.05 



23.6 
15.4 
15.4 
26.8 
23.6 
15.4 



63851°— wsp 314—13- 



-13 



194 SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 

The following is a list of miscellaneous measurements made in the 
Kruzgamepa River drainage basin. 

Miscellaneous measurements in Kruzgamepa River basin from 1906 to 1909. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to— 


Locality. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


Dis- 
charge 

per 
square 
mile. 


Sept. 1,1909 

July 28,1909 
Aug. 31,1909 
June 24,1906 


Kruzgamepa River 
do 


Imuruk Basin 

do 


1 mile below Cra- 
ter Creek. 
Above Iron Creek. 
do 


Feet 
370 

248 
248 
480 

550 
550 
550 
900 

900 
650 

550 
550 
550 
650 
550 
550 
650 
500 
550 
550 
550 
550 
550 
550 
900 

630 

630 
630 
450 

425 

425 
425 
750 

750 
740 
740 
760 
460 

730 

730 

730 
730 
650 
650 


Sec.-ft. 
188 

239 
255 
11.6 

99 
17.8 
26 
11.3 

9.0 
67 

67 
290 
110 

55 

39 
217 
131 
141 

89 
185 
245 

76 

95 

54 
3.3 

14.2 

10.1 

10.2 
4.5 
17.1 

26 

23 
a 11. 3 
4.6 

5.6 

1.25 

2.3 

1.3 

2.2 

6.9 

10.0 
9.8 
1.1 

12.7 
5.6 


153 
153 


Sec.-ft. 
1.52 

1.56 


do 


. . .do 


1.67 


Jasper Creek 

Fox Creek 


Salmon Lake 

.. .do 


i mile above 

mouth. 
Mouth of canyon. . 

Level of ditch to 

Matthews Gap. 

do 




June 22,1906 
Aug. 16,1906 
Sept. 5,1908 
Sept. 19,1907 

Do 


11.0 
11.0 
11.0 


9 00 


do 

do 

Slate Creek 

Rock Creek 

Crater Creek 

do 


do 

do 

Kruzgamepa River 

Slate Creek 


1.57 
2.36 






Aug. 6,1906 

Aug. 15,1906 
Aug. 27,1906 
Sept. 1,1906 
Sept. 8,1906 
Sept. 16, 1906 
June 29,1907 


Kruzgamepa River 
... .do 


Intake of proposed 
ditch to Salmon 
Lake. 

do 










do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 


do 

do 

do 

do 

do. 

do 


do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 






















July 3,1907 
July 16,1907 
Aug. 2,1907 
Aug. 23,1907 
Sept. 12, 1907 
June 21,1908 






do 

do 


do 

do 










do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

WiUow Creek 


do 

do 

do 


do 

do 

do 












, 


July 19,1909 


do 

do 

.. .do 


do 

do 

Level of ditch to 
Matthews Gap. 
Edge of mount- 
Below Hardluck 
Creek, including 
ditch. 

do 

do 






Sept. 1,1909 






Sept. 19,1907 
July 17,1908 






Big Creek 

Dome Creek 

do 

do 


do 

Iron Creek 

do 

do . 






Aug. 14,1906 

Sept. 15, 1906 
Aug. 30,1909 
Aug. 14,1906 

Sept. 15,1906 

July 18,1908 
Aug. 30,1909 
Aug. 13,1906 

Sept. 15,1906 
Aug. 13,1906 


12.3 

12.3 
12.3 
38 

40 

40 
40 
6.4 

6.4 
5.1 
6.1 
4.1 


.82 

.83 
.37 




Kruzgamepa River 

do 

. ...do 


Below Canyon 

Creek. 
Above Golden 

Gate Mining 

Co.'s ditch. 

do 

.. ..do 


.45 


do 

do 

do 


.65 

.58 
.28 


Eldorado Creek.... 

do 

Discovery Creek. . . 
do 

Canyon Creek . . 


Dome Creek 

do 


Gold Beach De- 
velopment Co.'s 
ditch intake, 
do 


.83 

1.04 




do 


.25 


Sept. 15,1906 
Aug. 13,1906 


do 

do 


do 

do 

In ditch 


.45 
.32 


Aug. 30,1909 


Spring. 


Iron Creek from 
south. 

Eldorado and Dis- 
covery creeks. 

.....do 

do 




Sept. 16,1906 
Aug. 1, 1907 


Gold Beach Devel- 
opment Co.'s 
ditch. 
do 

do 


At penstock 

do 










Aug. 22,1907 
Sept. 16, 1906 
July 29,1907 


do 

do . . 






do 

Grand Union Creek 
do 


Canyon Creek 






Kruzgamepa River 
do 


Below springs 

do 






Sept. 2,1909 













• Poor measuring conditions; discharge probably too small. 



SUKFACE WATER SUPPLY OE SEWARD PENINSULA. 195 

KTTZITRIN RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 
DESCRIPTION. 

Kuzitrin River and its tributaries drain an area aggregating about 
1,890 square miles, in the central portion of Seward Peninsula. The 
two forks of the main stream rise in the lava beds just north of the 
Bendeleben Mountains and flow west to Imuruk Basin. Kuzitrin 
River receives a number of large tributaries, including Noxapaga 
River, Garfield Creek, and Kougarok River from the north and 
Minnie, EUa, Bonanza, Birch, and Belt creeks from the south. The 
drainage basin is very diversified, both topographically and geo- 
logically. At the south lie the Bendeleben Mountains, a rugged 
range with many sharp peaks and glaciated valleys. North of them 
is a large lowland basin divided into two parts, one on the lower river 
near Imuruk Basin, the other above Lanes Landing, known as the 
Kuzitrin Flats, which merges toward the east into a plateau formed 
of the lava flows. North of the flats Hes the Kougarok region, 
including, as the name is commonly used, not only the drainage 
basin of Kougarok River, but the adjoining territory as well. This 
region is in general a high plateau in which the rounded summits 
of the hills have elevations varying from 1,200 feet just north of the 
flats to 1,600 feet at the divide between the Kougarok drainage 
basin and the streams which flow northward into the Arctic. Above 
this plateau rise several mountain masses, includhig Kougarok 
Mountain, at the head of Kougarok River, 2,980 feet in height; 
Midnight Mountain, north of Taylor Creek, 2,650 feet; Baldy 
Mountain, south of North Fork; and others. 

The run-off from the Kuzitria drainage basin varies with the 
topography. It is high in the Bendeleben Mountains, very low in 
the flats, and increases slightly, if at all, farther north in the plateau 
area. The rainfall and run-off in the Kougarok region vary greatly 
from year to year, and in dry years are very small indeed. The 
basin contains a few lakes, which fall into two classes — those 
in the lowland area, many of which are merely lagoons or old cut-off 
meanders of the river, and those farther east, which were produced 
by the lava flows. None are so located as to be available for storage. 
There is no timber within the drainage basin except a few cotton- 
woods along the lower course of the river in the flats, though willows 
and alders are, as usual, well distributed. The ground is for the 
most part frozen and covered with a mantle of ice and muck, espe- 
ciaUy in the northern portion of the basin, where thawed ground is 
almost lacking. 

Kuzitrin River usually breaks up at Lanes Landing late in May 
and runs clear of ice early in June. It freezes over at this point about 
the last week in September, but at the head of the Kougarok the 
freeze-up comes about a week earlier. 



196 SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

Noxapaga River rises near Imuruk Lake and flows westward and 
southward, draining a total area of nearly 500 square miles at its 
junction with the Kuzitrin in the flats. Its principal tributaries are 
East Fork and Berry, Aurora, and Turner creeks. It drains a plateau 
area, none of which reaches an elevation much greater than 2,000 
feet. Most of the eastern portion of the drainage basin has been 
covered with a lava flow, and this portion furnishes practically all 
the discharge of the river at low water. The western portion of the 
drainage basin includes several streams on which mining operations 
have been conducted, especially Boulder Creek, a tributary of Turner 
Creek, where Rve or six claims have been worked intermittently and 
a considerable amount of gold extracted. The only ditch built in the 
Noxapaga basin has its intake on Turner Creek and extends around 
the rolling hills to the east for about 17 miles to Goose Creek. On 
account of the very meager water supply available, the ditch has been 
practically abandoned. 

Kuzitrin River is navigable for flat-bottomed boats and scows 
for about 60 miles, and Noxapaga River can be used for horse boats, 
carrying 2 or 3 tons, up to the mouth of Turner Creek. Most of the 
supplies for the Kougarok and Noxapaga regions have been brought in 
from Teller in this manner. Kougarok River is of so great import- 
ance with reference to mining that its basin is described separately 
(pp. 200-201). A gaging station was maintained on Kuzitrin River 
at Lanes Landing from 1908 to 1910. 

KUZITRIN RIVER AT LANES LANDING. ^ 

This station was established July 3, 1908, at Lanes Landing (Shel- 
ton post office), about 25 miles in a direct line above the mouth of the 
river, though the distance by the stream is considerably greater. It 
is below all important tributaries and shows practically the entire 
run-off of the drainage basin. The river flows over a broad gravel 
bed, but as this bed is probably frozen throughout except a thin layer 
of gravel in immediate contact with the stream, there can be no great 
amount of underground seepage. The channel at the station is some- 
what shifting and results are therefore likely to be slightly in error. 
Measurements are made by wading or from a boat. The gage has 
been located at the north end of the railroad trestle which extends 
across the river, and which is carried out by the high water and ice 
every spring. Records have been kept at this station for the three 
years, 1908-1910, beginning with the break-up in the spring. The 
gage heights recorded early in the spring are undoubtedly affected 
by backwater due to ice lower down, and the corresponding discharges 
have therefore been reduced. As the extent of this backwater is not 
known, the discharges are liable to large errors, but inaccuracy during 
this period is of minor importance, for it is information as to the low- 
water flow in the summer and the approximate total for the year that 



KUZITEIN KIVEK DEAINAGE BASIN, 



197 



is desired. The maximum discharge recorded was 10,500 second- 
feet on June 1 and 2, 1910. The gage height was higher in the later 
part of May, but it is thought that the effect of backwater was greater 
than on June 1 and 2. A minimum of 235 second-feet occurred 
August 1 to 3, 1909. 

Discharge measurements of Kuzitrin River at Lanes Landing, 1908-1910. 
[Elevation, 40 feet.] 



Date. 



1908. 

June 29 

July6 

July? 

July 19 

Aug. 1 

Aug. 20 



Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


5.61 


922 


5.00 


452 


4.90 


432 


4.54 


330 


5.58 


993 


4.65 


421 



Date. 



1909. 

June 18 

July 20 

July 26 

Sept. 3 

1910. 

Sept. 25 

Sept. 27 




Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
5,150 
349 
270 



3,450 
2,460 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Kuzitrin River at Lanes Landing 

for 1908-1910. 

[Drainage area, 1,750 square miles; observers, Albert Lokke, 1908; Carl L. Lokke, 1909-10.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1908. 
1 . 




6,000 
6,000 
6,020 
6,620 
6,280 

6,960 
6,440 
5,000 
4,490 
3,980 

3,810 
3,900 
3,900 
3,810 
3,810 

3,900 
3,230 
3,150 
2,910 
2,670 

1,640 
1,510 
1,280 
1,450 
1,510 

1,570 
1,450 
1,280 
1,060 
875 


5.5 

5.4 

5.25 

5.2 

5.3 

5.0 
4.95 
4.8 
4.8 
4.8 

4.75 
4.75 
4.8 
4.75 
4.7 

4.6 
4.6 
4.6 
4.6 
4.55 

4.5 

4.55 

4.5 

4.55 

4.45 

4.45 

4.4 

4.4 

4.35 

4.4 

5.25 


830 
745 
628 
590 
665 

465 
440 
365 
365 
365 

360 
380 
420 
410 
400 

357 
357 
357 
357 
336 

315 
336 
315 
336 

296 

296 
278 
278 
262 
278 
722 


5.6 
5.35 
5.25 
4.75 
5.25 

5.7 
5.8 
5.65 
5.35 
5.3 

4.95 
4.9 
4.9 
4.9 
4.8 

4.75 

4.7 

4.7 

4.5 

4.65 

4.6 
4.6 
4.6 

4.7 
4.75 

4.75 
4.7 
4.65 
4.6 
4.6 
4.6 


1,040 
802 
722 

425 
722 

1,140 

1,240 

1,190 

895 

850 

590 
560 
560 
560 
500 

474 
448 
448 
357 
424 

400 
400 
400 
448 
474 

474 
448 
424 
400 
400 
400 


4.7 

4.75 
4.7 
4.75 
4.8 

4.7 
4.75 
4.75 
4.65 
4.65 

4.6 

4.55 

4.5 

4.55 

4.5 

4.5 

4.65 

4.85 

4.9 

4.85 

4.8 
4.7 
4.7 
4.55 
4.45 

4.3 


448 


2 




474 


3 


9.0 
9.35 
9.15 

9.55 
9.25 

8.4 
8.1 
7.8 

7.7 
7.75 

7.75 

7.7 

7.7 

7.75 

7.35 

7.3 

7.15 

7.0 

6.25 

6.15 

5.95 

6.1 

6.15 

6.2 

6.1 

5.95 

5.75 

5.55 


448 


4 


474 


5 


500 


6 


448 


7 


474 


8 


474 


9 


424 


10 


424 


11 


400 


12 


378 


13 


357 


14 


378 


15 


357 


16 


357 


17 


424 


18 


530 


19 


660 


20 


530 


21 


500 


22 


448 


23 


448 


24 


378 


25 


337 
280 


26 


27 


28 






29 






30 






31 
















Mean 




3,550 
2.03 

2.26 




416 
.238 

.27 




600 
.343 

.40 




433 


Mean per square mile 




.247 
.24 


Run-ofl, depth in inches on drainage 
area 









198 



SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OE SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Kuzitrin River at Lanes Landing 
for 1908-1910~Coiituiued. 





May. 


June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1909. 
1 






8.20 
8.80 
8.50 
8.30 
7.85 

8.00 
7.70 
7.15 
6.95 
7.10 

7.45 
7.85 
7.75 
7.55 
7.62 

7.70 
7.82 
7.66 
7.30 
6.85 

6.85 
6.65 
6.18 
5.95 
5.68 

5.35 
5.30 
5.52 
5.72 
5.95 


6,120 
7,200 
6,660 
6,300 
5,490 

5,760 
5,220 
4,260 
3,920 
4,180 

4,780 
5,490 
5,310 
4,950 
5,080 

5,220 
5,440 
5,150 
4,520 
3,760 

3,760 
3,420 
2,670 
2,320 
1,930 

1,500 
1,430 
1,720 
1,990 
2,320 


5.68 
5.32 
5.28 
5.12 
5.12 

5.15 
5.30 
4.92 
4.85 
4.80 

4.65 
4.62 
4.48 
4.40 
4.32 

4.28 
4.22 
4.18 
4.12 
4.10 

4.05 
4.00 
3.98 
3.95 
3.92 

3.85 
3.85 
3.82 
3.80 
3.80 
3.80 


1,930 

1,460 
1,400 
1,200 
1,200 

1,240 

1,430 

976 

905 

855 

718 
692 
587 
535 
487 

464 
431 
410 
380 
370 

348 
325 
317 
305 
293 

268 
268 
257 
250 
250 
250 


3.75 
3.75 
3.75 
3.82 
4.00 

4.00 
3.95 
3.95 
4.02 
4.35 

4.90 
4.78 
4.60 
4.40 
4.30 

4.18 
4.08 
4.02 
3.98 
3.92 

3.90 
3.90 
3.90 
3.85 
3.85 

3.85 
3.85 
3.85 
3.85 
3.85 
3.85 


235 
235 
235 
257 
325 

325 

305 
305 
334 
505 

955 
836 
675 
535 
475 

410 
361 
334 
317 
293 

285 
285 
285 
268 
268 

268 
268 
268 
268 
268 
268 


3.90 
3.90 
3.90 
3.90 
3.9S 

4.00 
3.95 
3.92 
3.92 
3.90 

3.88 
3.90 
3.90 
3.92 
4.05 

4.08 
4.12 
4.15 
4.12 
4.08 

4.02 
4.00 
3.95 
3.95 
3.95 

3.95 
3.90 
3.90 
3.88 
3.82 


285 


2 .... 






285 


3 






285 


4 






285 


5 






317 


6 






325 


7 






305 


8 






293 


9 






293 


10 






285 


11 






278 


12 






285 


13 






285 


14 






293 


15 






348 


16 






361 


17 






380 


18 






395 


19 . . 


a 9. 70 
9.75 

10.45 
10.25 
a 10. 20 
9.30 
8.80 

8.40 
8.10 
7.95 
7.85 
7.95 
8.20 


4,000 
5,000 

6,000 
7,000 
8,000 
8,100 
7,200 

6,480 
5,940 
5,670 
5,490 
5,670 
6,120 


380 


20 


361 


21 


334 


22 


325 


23 


305 


24 


305 


25 


305 


26 


305 


27 


285 


28 


285 


29 


278 


30 


257 


31 














Mean 




6,210 
3.55 

1.72 




4,260 
2.43 

2.71 




671 
.383 

.44 




363 
.207 

.24 




310 


Mean per square mile 
Run-ofl, depth in 

inches on drainage 

area- 




.177 
.20 









a Gage heights were affected by backwater from May 19 to 23, and the discharge was estimated for this 
period. 



KUZITBIN RIVEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 



199 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Kuzitrin River at Lanes Landing 
far 1908-1910— QoniimiQd. 





May. 


June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


October. 


Day. 


-a 
1 

o 


i 


i 


1 


t 
1 


1 


S 
1 


1 


t 


fi 


j 


1 


1910. 
1 






14.7 

14.4 

14.95 

14.8 

13.85 

13.4 
12.6 
12.45 
12.2 
11.8 

11.25 
10.7 
10.5 
10.2 
9.9 

9.7 
9.55 
9.4 
10.85 
12.55 

12.6 
11.95 
12.2 
11.5 
11.7 

12.0 
11.8 
11.45 
11.2 
11.2 


9,500 
9,300 
10,500 
10,500 
9,630 

8,820 
7,380 
7,110 
6,660 
5,940 

4,950 
4,010 
3,670 
3,180 
2,700 

2,400 
2,180 
1,960 
4,260 
7,290 

7,380 
6,210 
6,660 
5,400 
5,760 

6,300 
5,940 
5,310 
4,860 
4,860 


11.1 

11.0 

10.7 

10.35 

10.15 

10.0 
10.0 
10.0 
10.0 
9.9 

9.4 

9.4 

9.5 

9.45 

9.45 

9.45 
9.3 
9.45 
9.55 
9.5 

11.4 
11.1 
10.5 
10.1 
9.75 

9.8 

9.7 

9.5 

9.35 

9.1 

8.8 


4,690 
4,520 
4,010 
3,420 
3,100 

2,860 
2,860 
2,860 
2,860 
2,700 

1,960 
1,960 
2,100 
2,030 
2,030 

2,030 
1,820 
2,030 
2,180 
2,100 

5,220 
4,690 
3,670 
3,020 
2,480 

2,550 
2,400 
2,100 
1,890 
1,560 
1,180 


8.65 
8.35 
10.15 
10.3 
9.9 

9.5 
9.5 
9.8 
9.4 
9.2 

9.15 
9.05 

8.85 
8.7 
8.6 

9.4 
10.2 
10.3 
10.3 
10.05 

9.65 
9.35 
9.2 
9.05 
9.05 

9.2 
8.95 
9.0 
8.7 
8.6 
8.45 


1,010 
718 
3,100 
3,340 
2,700 

2,100 
2,100 
2,550 
1,960 
1,690 

1,620 
1,500 
1,240 
1,060 
955 

1,960 
3,180 
3,340 
3,340 
2,940 

2,320 
1,890 
1,690 
1,500 
1,500 

1,690 
1,360 
1,430 
1,060 
955 
808 


8.55 
10.2 
10.5 
10.3 

9.9 

10.65 
11.55 
11.6 
11.45 
11.1 

10.7 
10.3 
10.0 
9.9 
9.75 

9.5 
9.4 
8.9 

8.75 
8.8 

8.7 
8.55 
9.3 
10.25 
10.3 

10.0 
9.75 
9.45 
9.15 
8.95 


905 
3,180 
3,670 
3,340 
2,700 

3,920 
5,490 
5,580 
5,310 
4,690 

4,010 
3,340 
2,860 
2,700 
2,480 

2,100 
1,960 
1,300 
1,120 
1,180 

1,060 
905 
1,820 
3,260 
3,340 

2,860 
2,480 
2,030 
1,620 
1,360 


8.75 
8.4 
8.05 
7.75 
7.75 

7.85 
7.8 
7.9 


1,120 


2 






760 


3 






505 


4 






348 


5 






348 


6 






395 


7 






370 


8 






420 


9 








10 










11 










12 










13 










14 










15 










16 










17 . . 










18 










19 










20 










21 










22 


14.95 
15.2 
15.55 
16.0 

17.3 

17.4 
17.45 
17.4 
16.4 
15.65 


3,000 
3,100 
3,800 
5,000 

8,000 
9,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 
10,000 






23 






24 






25 






26 






27 






28 






29 






30 






31 




















Mean 

Mean per 

square mile . . 
Run-ofE, depth 

in Inches on 




7,190 
4.11 

1.53 





6,020 
3.44 

3.84 




2,740 
1.57 

1.81 





1,890 
1.08 

1.24 




2,750 
1.57 

1.75 




533 
.305 

.09 



Note.— The gage heights were afiected by backwater from May 22 to June 4. The discharge was esti- 
mated for this period. 



200 SUBFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 

The following is a list of miscellaneous measurements made in the 
Kuzitrin River drainage basin. 

Miscellaneous measurements in Kuzitrin River basin from 1907 to 1909. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to— 


Locality. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


Dis- 
charge 

per 
square 
mile. 


Aug. 16,1907 
June 30,1908 
July 21,1908 


Noxapaga River. . . 
do 


Kuzitrin River 

do 


Above Goose Creek. 
do 


Sec.-ft. 
62 
126 
67 
71 
31 
2.1 
2.0 
.7 
4.1 
.6 

a. 8 

3.4 

.9 

.5 

122 


340 
340 
340 
340 
30 
28 
13 
13 
13 
13 
13 
6.5 
6.5 
6.5 
6.5 


Sec.-Jt. 

0.18 

.37 


... do 


do 


do 

do 


.20 


Sept. 8,1908 
Aug. 29,1909 
Aug. 27,1909 
Aug. 29,1909 
Aug. 15,1907 
June 29,1908 
July 20,1908 
Sept. 8,1908 
Aug. 30,1909 
Aug. 15,1907 
July 1,1908 
July 21,1908 
Aug. 28,1909 
July 30,1908 


do 


do 


.21 


do 


do 


do 


.091 


Eldorado Creek 

Aurora Creek 

Turner Creek 

do 

do 


Noxapaga River 

do 

do 

do 

do 


Trail crossing 

Near mouth 


.070 
.071 


Ditch intake 

do 

do 

do 


.054 

.32 

.046 


do 

do 

Boulder Creek 

do 

do 


do 


.12 


do 

Turner Creek 

do 

do 


do 

Claim No. 5 


.038 
,12 


do 

do 

do 


.62 
.14 


do 


do 


.077 


Birch Creek 


Kuzitrin River 


Edge of foothills 









a Estimated. 



KOUGAROK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 
DESCRIPTION.- 

Kougarok River drains a large area lying in the central portion of 
Seward Peninsula and empties into Kuzitrin River about 8 miles 
above Lanes Landing. It rises southeast of Kougarok Moxmtain 
and flows eastward to the mouth of Macklin Creek, where it makes a 
sharp bend to the right and follows a southeasterly course to its 
mouth. The largest tributaries are Taylor Creek and North Fork 
from the east and Henry, Coarse Gold, and Windy creeks from the 
west. Of less importance are Washington, Columbia, Macklinj 
Homestake, Goose, California, Arctic, Arizona, Louisa, Galvin, and 
Dan creeks and Left Fork. Quartz Creek, which empties into the 
river below those named above, and its tributaries, Coffee, Dahl, 
Checkers, Carrie, and Independence creeks, were up to 1909 the most 
important gold producers of the region, but have a very smaU run- 
off except at times of heavy rain. 

The river and all its tributaries reach a very low stage during 
periods of deficient rainfall. During 1908 and 1909 seasons of par- 
ticularly severe drought were experienced. The water supply for 



KOUGAKOK EIVEE DBAINAGE BASIN. 201 

1907 was probably near the normal, although the total run-off for the 
summer may be a little above the average; that of 1910 was well 
sustained throughout the season, as is shown by the record of Henry 
Creek, the only one available for this year. 

Mining has been done on Kougarok River and many of its tribu- 
taries since 1900. Eight ditches have been built to divert the waters 
of Kougarok River and its tributaries for hydraulic mining, and many 
others to obtain water for sluicing. There are two ditches on the 
upper Kougarok, two on Taylor Creek and one each on Henry, Arizona, 
and Coarse Gold creeks and on North Fork. There is no practicable 
water-power prospect in the basin, for storage is lacking and the 
minimum flow is altogether too small. A favorable site for power 
development could be had at the bend just above Coarse Gold Creek 
if the water supply were not so meager. 

The principal tributaries are further discussed in connection with 
the gaging station descriptions. 

Records have been obtained at the following points in the drainage 
basin: 

Kougarok River and Homestake ditch at intake, 1907-1909. 

Kougarok River below Henry Creek, 1909. 

Kougarok River above Coarse Gold Creek, 1907-1909. 

Taylor Creek at Cascade intake, 1907. 

Henry Creek at mouth, 1908-1910. 

Coarse Gold Creek near mouth, 1909. 

North Fork above Eureka Creek, 1908-9. 

Homestake ditch at penstock, 1907. 

North Star ditch above siphon, 1907 

koitgarob: river and homestake ditch at intake. 

These stations were established July 15, 1907, in order to determine 
the total flow of upper Kougarok River and the amount diverted by 
the Homestake ditch. The gage on the river is located on the left 
bank about 150 feet below the dam which diverts the water ruto the 
ditch, and the ditch gage is directly opposite, on the right side of the 
ditch. Measurements of both river and ditch are made by wading at 
points near the gages. Those made on the river are liable to error on 
account of poor measuring conditions. The records are inaccurate 
for certaru periods because both channels shifted considerably. The 
total monthly discharge of the river has been found by combining the 
values for the ditch and the river below the intake, and daily values 
can be obtained in the same way. From evidence at hand it seems 



202 



SUEFAOE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



probable that discharges of 600 to 1,000 second-feet have occurred 
at the station. The lowest recorded discharge was 2.9 second-feet, 
from July 24 to August 3, 1909. 



Discharge measurements of Kougaroh River at Homestahe intake in 1907-1909. 

[Elevation, 635 feet.] 



Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


July 15 . . 


1907. 


Feet. 

1.24 

1.13 

1.08 

.92 

.90 

.92 

1.64 

.89 

1.34 

2.47 

1.98 


Sec.-ft. 
18.0 
6.6 
2.0 
3.1 
2.2 
3.3 
82 

.5 
42 
303 
153 


June 27. . 


1908. 


Feet. 

0.76 

.53 

.05 

.13 

1.58 
.40 
.39 


««-/'• 


July 15 


July 3 


9.5 


July 20 


July 26 


.5 


Aug. 9 . . 


Sept. 10..- - 


1.8 


Aug. 12 


June 21.. 


1909. 




Aug. 19. 




Aug. 22 


262 


Sept. 1 


July 23 


3.4 


Sept. 4.... 


Sept. 1 


5.3 


Sept. 10 






Sept. 11 










Discharge measu 


rements 


of Homestahe ditch at intake in 1907-1909. 




Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


July 15.. 


1907. 


Feet. 
0.51 
.45 

-.05 
.36 
.20 

-.04 
.28 
.27 
.62 
.75 
.44 


Sec.-ft. 

11.6 

10.2 
.4 
8.1 
5.7 
1.5 
7.4 
7.3 

17.6 

23 

12.0 


June 27. . 


1908. 


Feet. 
0.22 
.24 
.29 
.10 
.15 

-.06 
.29 


Sec.-ft 
6.9 


July 15... 


June 27 . ... 


6.6 


July 15 


July 3 


6.4 


July 20... 


July 26 


2.0 


July 29 . 


Sept. 10 c 


3.2 


Aug. 12 


June 21.. 


1909. 




Aug. 19 




Aug. 19 


.5 


Aug. 22 . . . . 


Sept. 1 


5.3 


Aug. 22 






Sept. 10 









KOUGAEOK EIVEB DEAINAGE BASIN. 



203 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Kougarok River and Romestake 
ditch at intake for 1907-1909. 



Drainage area, 44 square rail^; observers, employees of Kougarok Mining & Ditch Co., 1907-8; Frank 

Dolan, 1809.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 




River. 


Ditch. 


River. 


Ditch. 


River. 


Ditch. 


Day. 




1 
ft 


*5 

1 

1 

o 


1 

5 


•53 

1 


1 

.El 

s 


j 


1 

§ 

s 


1 


9 


■jj 


i 


1907. 
1 













0.4 

3!2 
2.2 

2.2 
2.2 
1.7 
2.2 
2.7 

2.7 
2.7 
3.2 
3.2 
2.7 

48 
93 
72 
24 
67 

35 

29 

17 
5.8 
5.0 
.5 


0.25 
.15 
.18 
.32 
.28 

.20 

1.6 

.10 

.06 

-.02 

-.03 
-.04 
-.06 
-.06 
-.08 

-.08 

+ .04 

.12 

.28 

.18 

.60 
.61 
.61 
.63 

.58 

.59 
.66 
.62 
.61 
.69 
.57 


6.8 
4.8 
5.3 
8.5 
7.5 

5.7 
4.9 
3.8 
3.2 
2.0 

1.8 
1.7 
1.5 
1.5 
1.2 

1.2 

2.8 
4.2 
7.5 
5.3 

17.0 
17.4 
17.4 
18.2 
16.3 

16.6 
19.4 

17.8 
17.4 
20.6 
16.0 


1.01 
1.15 
1.12 
1.35 
1.57 

1.44 

1.28 
1.16 
1.78 
2.56 

1.86 
1.54 
1.33 
1.17 
1.74 

1.50 
1.22 
1.11 
1.04 
1.10 


10.8 

22 

20 

42 

71 

53 

35 

23 
110 
336 

124 
67 
40 
24 
99 

61 

29 

18.9 

13.2 

18.0 


0.62 

.66 
.68 
.64 
.58 

.64 
.64 
.65 
.69 
.55 

.62 
.65 
.66 
.66 
.66 

.68 
.69 
.70 
.62 
.30 


17.8 


2 












19.4 


3 












20.2 


4 












18.6 


5 












16.3 


6 












18.6 


7 












18.6 


8 












19.0 


9 










0.92 
.90 

.90 
.90 
.89 
.90 
.91 

.91 
.91 
.92 
.92 
.91 

1.40 
1.71 
1.58 
1.17 
1.54 

1.28 

1.22 

1.09 

.96 

.95 

.89 


20.6 


10 










15.2 


11 










17.8 


12 










19.0 


13 










19.4 


14 










19.4 


15 


1.24 


18 

3.0 
3.0 
3.0 
3.0 
2.9 

2.0 
1.6 
.4 
14.0 
1.3 

.4 
.4 
.4 
.4 
.4 
.4 


'6*36" 

.40 
.31 
.34 
.62 
.55 

.49 
.42 
.26 
.22 
.21 




13.0 
12.0 
10.0 
9.0 
8.0 

9.0 
6.7 
7.4 
15.4 
15.2 

13.2 
11.1 
7.1 
6.2 
5.9 
6.4 


19.4 


16 


20.2 


17 




20.6 


18 




21.0 


19 




17.8 


20 


1.08 

1.05 
1.04 
1.00 
1.20 
1.03 

1.00 
.88 
.89 


8.0 


21 




22 










23 










24 










25 











26 










27 










28 










29 










30 












31 
























Mean . . . 




3.2 

12.4 

.28 
.18 





9.2 




13.9 
22.8 

.52 
.60 




8.9 




60.8 
79.1 

1.80 
1.34 




18.3 


Mean total 






Meanpersquare 
rnjle 




















Run-off, depth 
in inches on 
drainage area. 





































Note. — Discharges for July 16 to 19 are estimated. All water was carried in the ditch from July 26 to 
Aug. 8, inclusive, except the seepage through the diversion dam, which was estimated. During this 
time about 2 second-feet was turned out oi the first waste gate to furnish a sluice head for operators who 
were working in the dver bed below. 



204 



SUKFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Kougarok River and Homestahe 
ditch at intake for 1907-1909 — Continued. 





July. 


August. 


September. 




River. 


Ditch. 


River. 


Ditch. 


River. 


Ditch. 


Day. 


03 
O 


I 


4i 
1 




i 
1 

C3 


8, 

1 


4i 

1 
1 


1 


-a 
1 

1 


03 

s 


•53 
O 


g) 

ft 


1908. 
1 


0.61 
.55 
.42 
.41 
.40 

.49 
.48 
.12 
.10 
.10 

.09 
.09 
.10 
.09 
.09 

.09 
.09 
.07 
.06 
.06 

.08 
.07 
.07 
.06 
.0^ 

.04 
.05 
.04 
.0^* 
.04 


15.6 
11.2 
3.7 
3.2 
2.7 

7.2 
6.7 
1.8 
1.2 
1.2 

1.1 
1.1 
1.2 
1.1 
1.1 

1.1 
1.1 

.8 
.6 
.6 

.9 
.8 
.8 
.6 
.5 

.4 
.5 
.4 
.4 

.4 
.5 


0.15 
.28 
.29 
.28 
.22 

.14 
.20 
.22 
.20 
.20 

.23 
.20 
.20 
.18 
.18 

.18 
.20 
.14 
.14 
.12 

.14 
.12 
.12 
.10 
.10 

.10 
.12 
.13 
.12 

.12 
.12 


3.1 
5.6 
5.8 
5.6 
4.3 

2.9 
3.9 
4.3 
3.9 
3.9 

4.5 
3.9 
3.9 
3.6 
3.6 

3.6 
3.9 
2.9 
2.9 
2.6 

2.9 
2.6 
2.6 
2.3 
2.3 

2.3 
2.6 

2.8 
2.6 
2.6 
2.6 


0.22 
.03 
.04 
.03 
.03 

.03 
.03 
.19 
.17 
.03 

.03 

.90 

-.02 

-.02 

-.02 

.00 
-.02 
.00 
.00 
.04 

.01 
.01 
.01 
.01 
.01 

.04 
.00 
.05 
.05 
.04 
.05 


5.6 
.3 
.4 
.3 
.3 

.3 

.3 

4.1 

3.4 

.3 

.3 










.4 

.1 
.1 
.1 
.1 
.1 

.4 

.5 
.5 
.4 
.5 


0.40 
.18 
.16 
.20 
.41 

.40 
.38 

"A9 

.16 
.10 
.08 
.08 
.49 

.37 

.22 
.14 
.12 
.50 

.30 
.18 
.20 
.32 
.32 

.54 
.32 
.17 
.13 
.08 
.12 


8.3 
3.6 
3.3 
3.9 
8.6 

8.3 

7.8 





1.7 

3.3 
2.3 

2.0 
2.0 
10.6 

7.6 
4.3 
2.9 
2.6 
10.9 

6.0 
3.6 
3.9 
6.5 
«.5 

12.1 
6.5 
3.4 
2.8 
2.0 
2.6 


0.10 
.10 
.24 
.23 
.12 

.11 
.16 
.17 
.15 
.10 


1.2 
1.2 
6.8 
6.2 
1.8 

1.5 
3.1 
3.4 

2.8 
1.2 


0.52 
.35 
.49 
.59 
.64 

.31 
.35 
.20 
.14 


11.5 


2 


7.2 


3 


10.6 


4 


13.7 


5 


9.3 


6 


6.2 


7 


7.2 


8 


3.9 


9 


2.9 


10 





11 




12 . 










13 










14 










15 










16 










17 










18 










19 










20 










21 










22 










23 










24 










25 










26 










27 










28 










29 










30 










31 




















Mean 




2.3 
5.7 

.13 
.15 




3.4 




.61 
5.5 

.125 
.14 




4.9 




2.9 
10.2 

.23 
.09 




7.3 


Mean total 






Meanper square 
milft 




















Run-off, depth 
in inches on 
drainage area. 





































Note.— The mean discharge of the river for the period June 27-30 was 32.8 second-feet; that of the ditch 
for the same period was 7.1 second-feet. 



KOUGAROK EIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



205 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Kougarok River and Homestdke 
ditch at intake for 1907-1909— Goniimied.. 

[Observer, Frank Dolan.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 




River. 


River. 


Ditcll. 


River. 


Ditcll. 


River. 


Ditch. 


Day. 


1 


ft 


1 


Q 


4^ 

1 


P 


1 


1 

ft 


4^ 

1 


« 


t 


1 


i 

1 


1 


1909. 
1 








45 
35 
30 
22 
18 

17 

15 

12 
6.0 
4.3 

7.0 
6.0 
5.0 
5.0 
5.0 

4.0 
4.0 
4.0 
4.0 
3.5 

3.5 
3.5 
3.4 
2.9 
2.9 

2.9 
2.9 

2.9 
2.9 
2.9 
2.9 






0.38 
.38 
.38 

.78 
.51 

.41 

.38 

.38 

1.12 

.78 

.44 
.39 
.38 
.36 
.38 

.38 
.38 
.38 
.36 
.36 

.36 
.36 
.36 
.36 
.36 

.36 
.36 
.36 
.40 
.40 
.40 


2.9 
2.9 
2.9 
34.0 
8.4 

3.8 

2.9 

2.9 

93.0 

39.0 

7.9 
5.3 

4.8 
3.9 
4.8 

4.8 
4.8 
4.8 
3.9 
3.9 

3.9 
3.9 
3.9 
3.9 
3.9 

3.9 
3.9 
3.9 

5.7 
5.7 
5.7 






0.36 
.38 
.40 
.35 
.36 

.36 
.34 


3.9 
4.8 
5.7 
3.5 
3.9 

3.9 
3.2 
3.0 
2.9 
2.9 

3.0 
3.1 
3.2 
3.3 
3.5 

4.8 


0.30 
.42 
.19 
.15 
.15 

.05 


5.3 


2 
















8.1 


3 
















3.3 


4 












0.35 
.40 

.15 


6.4 
7.6 

2.7 


2.7 


5 












2.7 


6 . 












1.4 


7 














8 




















9 






0.46 
.42 


0.27 
.20 


4.7 
3.4 


.75 
.81 

.72 
.39 
.17 
.12 


18.9 
22.0 

17.6 
7.4 
3.0 
2.3 


.33 
.33 

'".'35' 
.38 






10 










11 ... 










12 
















13 ... 
















14 
















15 .. 












.25 

.15 


4.4 


16 
















2.7 


17 


















18 
























19 
























20 ... 




120 

150 
85 
70 
50 
45 

40 
40 
40 
36 
40 


:::::: 

.40 
.38 
.38 

.38 
.38 
.38 
.38 
.38 
.38 


















21 




















22 




















23 




















24 




















25 




















26 




















27 





















28 




















29 




















30 




















31 










































Mean.... 
Mean total . 




65.1 
65.1 

1.48 
.61 





9.21 
9.47 

.215 
.24 


.26 






9.35 
12.2 

.277 
.32 




2.84 




3.66 
5.57 

.127 
.08 




1.91 


Mean per 
squaie mile 




















Run-off, depth 
In inches on 
drainage 
area 









































Note.— Discharges for June 20 to July 8, 1909, have been estimated from the records on Kougarok River 
below Henry Creek and above Coarse Gold Creek. They are only approximate, on account of daily fluctu- 
ations, but are included in order to furnish data for comparison with other stations. 

KOUGAROK RIVER BELOW HENRY CREEK. 

This station was established June 29, 1909, by C. T. Law, engineer 
for the Taylor Creek Ditch Co., and the gage readings and most of 
the measurements were furnished by him. Two gages were used, 
the one originally installed being influenced by backwater on July 
29, from a mining dam which was built just below. Inasmuch 
as the new gage was not established until August 13, the inter- 
vening records are only approximate. The low-water data are uncer- 
tain^ on account of water being stored in the lower ends of ditches 



206 



SURFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



for intermittent sluicing during the dry periods, a condition which 
produced a very irregular flow in the river at this point. The gage 
was read only twice a day, and the recorded mean gage height may 
vary considerably from the actual mean gage height. A minimum 
discharge of 7 second-feet occurred during the week August 22 to 28. 

Discharge measurements of Kougaroh River below Henry Creek in 1909. 
[Elevation, 410 feet.] 



Date. 


Hydrographer. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Date. 


Hydrographer. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


July 40 
July 8a 
July 18a 
July 22 
July 24 


C.T. Law 


Feet. 
1.11 
.77 
.50 
.37 
.42 


Sec.-ft. 

128.0 

54.0 

21.0 

9.4 

10.7 


Aug. 13 
Aug. 19 
Aug. 29 
Aug. 31 
Sept. 18 


C.T. Law 


Feet. 
0.70 
.54 
.52 

.62 
.85 


Sec.-ft. 
34.0 


do 

do 

F. F. Henshaw 

do 


do 

do 

G. L. Parker 

C. T . Law . 


8.7 

9.8 

21.0 

67.0 







o Measured by floats. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Kougaroh River below Henry 

Creel for 1909. 

[Drainage area, 225 square miles; observer, C. B. Atwater.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day 


i 

1 



1 
ft 


1 
1 




s 





s 


03 



§. 


i 
1 


1 
ft 


i 


1 

ft 


1 


1.10 
1.12 
.95 

1.04 
.95 

.92 
.88 
.78 
.76 
.83 

.74 
.71 
.66 
.58 
.58 

.54 
.50 
.50 
.48 
.46 


125 
130 

91 
111 

91 

84 
76 
56 
53 
66 

49 
44 
36 
26 
26 

21 
17 
17 
16 
14 


0.57 
.57 
.57 
.66 
.86 

.74 
.68 
.60 
.82 
L28 

1.18 
.96 
.95 
.67 
.60 

.58 
.58 
.57 
.56 
.53 


9 
9 
9 

18 

48 

27 
20 
12 
40 
113 

83 
35 
33 
28 
18 

16 
16 
14 
13 
10 


0.64 
.70 
.69 
.66 
.61 

.64 
.60 
.59 
.59 
.59 

.58 
.58 
.57 
.62 
.83 

.87 
.79 
.80 


24 
33 
32 
27 
20 

24 
18 
17 
17 
17 

16 
16 
14 
21 
54 

61 
47 
49 


21 


0.40 
.38 
.40 
.40 
.37 

.34 
.36 
.37 
.57 

.57 
.57 


10 
9 
10 
10 
9 

8 
8 
9 
9 
9 
9 


0.50 
.49 

.48 
.48 
.48 

.47 
.48 
.48 
.52 
.58 
.62 


8 
8 

7 
7 
7 

6 
7 
7 
10 
16 
21 






2 


22 






3 


23 






4 


24 






5 


25 






6 


26 






7 


27 






8 


28 






9 


29 






10 


30 








31 






11 


Mean. 
Mean per 
square 
mile 






12 . . . 





40.3 
.179 

.21 




21.8 
.097 

.11 




28.2 


13 




14 




15 ... 


.125 


16 


Run-off, 
depth in 
inches on 
d r ainage 
area 






17 




18 




19 


.08 


20 






















Note.— Discharge during the interval July 29-Aug. 13 is only approximate. 
June 29-30 was 146 second-feet. 



The mean discharge for 



KOUGAROK RIVER ABOVE COARSE GOLD CREEK. 

Between the mouths of Taylor Creek and North Fork Kougarok 
River has a meandering course, with well-marked benches along most 
of the distance. At the mouth of Coarse Gold Creek it makes a bend 



KOUGAEOK KIVEE DRAINAGE BASIN. 



207 



which brings two points that are more than 2 miles apart by the river 
within 560 feet of each other in a straight line. A tunnel through this 
neck would drain the gravels in the bend and make them accessible 
for working. If it were not that the run-off at this locality is very 
small, it would furnish a fair power site. The difference in level of 
the water surface at the two points is about 17 feet, and an outcrop of 
rock which crosses the river just below the proposed tunnel intake 
would make a fairly good dam site. 

A gaging station was established above the bend July 15, 1907, and 
readings were made during the remainder of the season. In 1908 and 
1909 no one was available to make the readings at this point, so a gage 
was established near the roadhouse 200 or 300 feet above the mouth 
of Coarse Gold Creek. Conditions at this location were not so per- 
manent as at the upper gage, and, as fewer measurements were 
obtained, the results are not nearly as good as those for 1907. The 
station was discontinued July 31, 1909, in favor of the station below 
Henry Creek, which gives practically the same record. The highest 
discharge recorded was 1,240 second-feet on September 10, 1907, 
when the gage height was estimated from high-water marks, as the 
observer was absent. Very much higher floods are known to have 
occurred on the river. The minimum discharge at the end of July, 
1909, was 9 second-feet, and the river may have reached a still lower 
stage in September. 

The discharge at this station gives the flow past the intake of the 
tunnel and also the amount of water that could be diverted by a low- 
line ditch to Dahl Creek. Such a ditch is proposed, and if built, will 
have its intake on Kougarok River below Dreamy Gulch and on 
Henry Creek near the mouth. It will extend to Dahl and Coffee 
creeks, more than 30 miles. Only a small percentage of the water 
enters the river between these proposed intakes and the gaging 
station. 

Discharge measurements of Kougarok River above Coarse Gold Creehfrom 1907 to 1909. 

[Elevation, 341 feet.] 



Date. 



1907. 

July 14 

July 21 

July 23 

July 30 

Aug. 8 

Aug. 14 

Aug. 23 

Aug. 26 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 

1.11 

.86 

.74 

.64 

.44 

.40 

2.22 

1.95 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
89 
51 
36 
33 
18.9 
16.7 
460 
323 



Date. 



1908 

June 26 

July 25 

1909 

June 20 

July 21 

July 21 

July24 

Aug. 31 



Gaj^e 
height. 



Feet. 
1.38 
.15 



2.77 
1.26 
1.27 
1.26 
1.36 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
302 
9.9 



453 
11.2 
10.4 



20 



208 



SUKFACE WATEK SUPPLY OP SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Kougaroh River above Coarse 

Gold Creek for 1907-1909. 

[Drainage area, 254 square miles. Observers, C. %lUs, 1907; Charles Brooks and J. Turner, 1908-9.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


4^ 

■a 
1 

1 


{ 

ft 


4^ 

to 

1 

1 

O 


1 


1 


g. 


,£3 

i 


1 

ft 


1. 

! 


1 


i 

1 


1 


1907. 
1 






0.70 
.63 
.60 
.63 
.60 

.57 
.50 
.46 
.38 
.38 

.38 
.37 
.39 
.40 
.40 

.43 

.50 

1.03 

1.12 

1.08 


35 
31 
29 
31 
29 

27 
23 
21 
16 
16 

16 
16 
17 
17 
17 

19 
23 

75 
92 
84 


2.15 
2.10 
1.80 



'i.'so' 

2.23 


210 
230 
205 
280 
500 

430 
400 
270 
600 
1,240 

550 
350 
270 
478 
600 

380 
270 
200 
160 
130 


1907. 
21 


0.82 

.82 

.75 

1.14 

1.58 

1.20 
1.06 
.83 
.70 
.66 
.72 


45 
45 
39 
96 
200 

109 
81 
46 
35 
33 
37 


1.68 
2.25 
2.22 
2.19 
2.22 

1.99 



229 
490 
472 
454 
472 

341 
280 
240 
210 
360 
190 






2 






22 


...... 




3 






23.- 






4 






24 






5 






25 






6 






26 






7 






27.. 






8 






28 






9 






29 






10 






30. 








■ 




31 


' • ••• 




11 


Mean. 

Mean per 

square 

mile 






12 






67.2 
.26 

.17 





141 
.56 

.65 




388 


13 ... 








14 


1.09 
1.03 

.98 
.90 
.94 
.90 

.84 


86 
75 

67 
54 
60 
54 
47 




15 


1.53 


16 


Run-off, 
depth in 
iDches on 
drainage 
area 






17 




18 




19 


1.14 


20 













Note. — Discharges for days when gage was not read were estimatod with the aid of a hydrograph. 





1908 


1909 




June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


June. 


July. 


Day. 


1 


1 


1 

i 


1 
ft 


1, 
1 


A 


i 


1 

ft 


1 
1 


1 

ft 


i 


ft 


1 






0.85 
.75 
.56 
.66 
.66 

.52 
.50 
.45 
.42 
.35 

.40 
.42 
.35 
.30 
.32 

.25 
.42 
.38 
.32 
.32 

.32 
.28 
.35 
.30 
.22 


96 
76 
49 
49 
49 

44 
41 
36 
32 
26 

30 
32 
26 
21 
23 

17 
32 
28 
23 
23 

23 
19 
26 
21 
16 


0.45 
.42 

:i 

.45 

.60 
.62 
.48 
.45 
.40 

.38 
.35 
.40 
.32 
.35 

.40 
.38 
.35 
.35 
.32 

.38 
.52 
.48 
.40 
.32 


36 
32 
28 
32 
36 

54 
67 
39 
36 
30 

28 
26 
30 
23 
26 

30 

28 
26 
26 
23 

28 
44 
39 
30 
23 


0.58 
.68 
.62 
.68 
.62 

.52 
.42 
.35 
.38 
.30 

.22 
.20 


61 
51 
57 
65 
57 

44 
32 
26 
28 
21 

15 
13 






2.3 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 

2.05 
2.0 
1.9 
1.75 

1.7 

1.6 
1.55 


250 


2. 










180 


3 










180 


4 











180 


5 










180 


6 











164 


7 






147 


8 










119 


9 










83 


10 










73 


11.. 










65 


12 










47 


13 










42 


14 
















32 


15 
















26 


16 
















23 


17 














1.35 
1.3 


20 


18 














14 


19 














14 


20 










2.8 


470 

400 
330 
270 
197 
188 


1.3 
■i.*25' 


14 


21 










13 


22 












11 


23 












10 


24 










2.15 


10 


26 










IQ 



KOUGAEOK KIVEE DBAINAGE BASIN. 



209 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Kougaroh River above Coarse 
Gold Creek for 1907-1909— Contmued. 





1908 


1909 




June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


June. 


July. 


Day. 


i 
i 


t 


4i 

1 


1 

s 


i 
1 
& 

a 
O 


1 

5 


1 

i 


1 


i 


5 


1 


o 


26 


1.36 

1.05 

1.10 

.92 

.85 


285 
160 
166 
112 
96 


0.25 
.20 
.20 
.25 
.30 
.38 


17 
13 
13 
17 
21 
28 


0.40 
.45 
.42 
.32 
.38 
.45 


30 
36 
32 
23 

28 
86 






2.1 
2.1 
2.1 
2.1 
2.15 


180 
180 
180 
180 
197 


:::::: 


g 


27 






9 


28 






9 


29 






9 


30 






9 


31 






9 




















Mean . . 




162 
.64 

.12 




31.2 
.12 




32.1 
.13 

.15 





38.3 
.15 

.07 




252 
.992 

.41 




62.9 


Mean per 
square raile . . 




.248 


Run-oflf, depth 
in inches on 
drainage area 




.29 



TAYLOR CREEK AT CASCADE INTAKE. 



Taylor Creek is the longest tributary of Kougarok River and is 
larger than the main stream at their junction. It rises near the head- 
waters of Noxapaga and Goodhope rivers and flows in a southwest- 
erly direction. Its principal tributaries are Midnight, Solomon, Jim, 
Brown, Rock, and Arizona creeks. Two ditches have been built on 
Taylor Creek — the North Star, with its intake about 3 miles above 
Solomon Creek, and the Cascade, which diverts water about 5 miles 
farther downstream. 

A gaging station, established at the Cascade intake July 17, 1907, 
to determine the total water supply available for the two ditches, is 
located about 100 yards above the diversion dam of the lower ditch. 
During August and September a part of the discharge of the creek was 
diverted past the station in the North Star ditch, and this amount has 
been added to give the total flow of the creek. 

Discharge measurements of Taylor Creek at Cascade intake in 1907. 
[Elevation, 580 feet.] 



Date. 



July 17 
July 24 
July 26 



height. 


Dis- 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


0.67 


16.0 


1.65 


185 


.93 


43 



Date. 



Aug. 10, 
Aug. 21, 
Aug. 24, 



Dis- 
charge. 




63851°— wsp 314—13 14 



210 



SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Taylor Creek at Cascade intake 

for 1907. 

[Drainage area, 73.4 square miles. Observer, Percy Baldwin.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


1 




1 

1 


5 


.£3 

i 


1 

P 


1 
1 


s 




1 

5 


1 

1 


1 
.23 
Q 


1.... 








7 
7 
7 
6 
6 

6 

5 

5 

4.6 

4.6 

4 

3.9 
4.6 

5.0 
9.2 

32 

72 

44 


1.12 
1.24 
1.15 
1.25 
1.55 

1..36 
1.25 
1.00 
1.24 
2.40 

1.80 
1.45 
1.30 
1.15 
1.60 

1.30 
1.15 
1.00 


67 
87 
72 
89 
152 

110 
89 
50 

87 
430 

220 

129 

98 

72 

164 

98 
72 
50 
45 
35 


21 




13 
12 
10 

186 
80 

43 
25 
13 

8 
8 
8 


1.60 
1.48 
1.38 
1.25 
1.65 

"i."26' 

1.65 
1.20 


164 
136 
114 
89 

178 

147 
116 
98 
80 
178 
80 






2 . . 








22 








3 








23 








4 








24 


1.65 






5 








25 






6 








26 


.93 







7 








27 




... 


g 








28 









9. ... 








29 








10 






0.49 


30 














31 








11 


Mean. . 








12 










29.9 

.0 
29.9 

.407 
.26 




52.2 

2.0 
54.2 

.738 
.85 




Ill 


13 






.31 

.42 

.47 

.50 
.57 
.84 
1.15 
.95 


North Star 
ditch mean 






14 






8.0 


15 




20 

18 
16 
20 
15 
13 


119 


16 


...... 


Mean per 
square 
mile 






17 


0.67 


1.62 


18 


Run-off, 
depth in 
inches on 
drain age 
area 






19 






20 










1.20 











Note.— Discharges for days on which the gage was not read were obtained by the aid of a hydrograph. 
HENRY CREEK AT MOITTH. 

Henry Creek, which enters Kougarok River about 2 miles below 
the mouth of Taylor Creek, is the largest tributary from the west 
and in dry weather furnishes the steadiest high-level water supply 
in the Kougarok drainage area. Its headwaters lie south of the 
upper Kougarok River and adjoin those of Budd Creek on the west. 
Lincoln Creek, which rises between Henry and Coarse Gold creeks, 
is the most important tributary. Lillian Creek enters from the north, 
about 4 miles from the mouth. 

The Henry Creek ditch, which was built by the T. T. Lane Co. in 
1905 and 1906, extends from Henry Creek about 2 miles above the 
mouth of Lincoln Creek to a point near the mouth of Homestake 
Creek and has a total length of 10^ miles. An additional 3} miles 
would divert Lincoln Creek. No water was running in the ditch be- 
tween 1907 and 1909. In 1910 from 1 to 5 second-feet was used from 
the ditch for hydraulicking during most of the season. It is now the 
property of the Taylor Creek Ditch Co. 

Measurements were made at the ditch intakes and also at the 
mouth. The total flow at ditch level on the dates when it was 



KOUGAKOK KIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



211 



measured was about 70 per cent of that at the mouth, and it has been 
estimated as the same proportion for days when measurements were 
made only at the mouth. 

Discharge measurements of Henry and Lincoln creeks, 1907. 



Date. 



Henry 
Creek at 
mouth. 



At ditch level. 



Henry 
Creek. 



Lincoln 
Creek. 



Total. 



July 16. . 
July 25. . 
July 30.. 
Aug. 9 . . 
Aug. 13. 
Aug. 20. 
Aug. 23. 
Aug. 26. 
Aug. 29 . 
Sept. 6.. 
Sept. 12. 



Sec.-ft. 



22.0 
9.6 
8.2 
6.8 

12.0 

60 

34 

27 

55 



Sec.-ft. 
10.0 
7.4 



Sec.-ft. 
8.2 
8.0 



2.7 
5.0 



2.3 
3.3 



42 



Sec.-ft. 

18.2 

15.4 
6.8 
5.7 
5.0 
8.3 

42 

24 

19 

38 

83 



Note.— Measurements of the amount of water available for the Henry Creek ditch from Lillian Creek are 
given in the list of miscellaneous measurements on page 220. 

A gaging station was established at the mouth of Henry Creek on June 
21, 1908, and readings have been kept during each succeeding summer. 
The channel is fairly permanent and the rating curve is well defined. 
(See fig. 8, p. 58.) Measuring conditions are good, and the records are 
reliable with the exception of those for 1910, which are somewhat 
uncertain, because no measurements were made. The highest re- 
corded discharge was 449 second-feet, September 6, 1910; the lowest 
was 1.7 second-feet on September 12 and 13, 1909. 

Discharge measurements of Henry Creek at mouth in 1908 and 1909. 
[Elevation, 410 feet.l 



Date. 


Hydrographer. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Date. 


Hydrographer. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1908. 
June 28 


Henshaw and Bar- 
rows 


Feet. 

0.70 
.45 
.05 

1.05 


Sec.-ft. 

64 
25 
4.0 

127 


1909. 
June 21 
June 22 
July 22 

Do. 


G. L. Parker 

do 


Feet. 
1.52 
.89 
.13 
.13 
.23 
.23 
-08 


Sec.-ft. 

284 

78 


July 3 
July 25 


A. T. Barrows 

do 


F. F. Henshaw 

do 


4.1 
3.7 


F. F. Henshaw 




C. T. Law , 


7.0 


1909. 


do 


6.0 


June 21 


Aug. 31 


G. L. Parker 


2.4 



212 



SURFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, infeet, anddischarge, in second-feet, of Henry Creek at mouthfor 1908-1910. 
[Drainage area, 51 square lailes. Observers, James B, McGilvrey, 1908; C, B. Atwater, 1909; C. T, Law, 1910.1 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
hei^t. 


Dis- 
charge. 


hSift. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1908. 
1 








43 

37 

27 
27 
19.5 

16.6 
15.3 
13.0 
12.5 
11.5 

13.0 
12.2 
11.5 
10.4 
9.2 

8.4 
8.4 
7.4 
6.4 
6.4 

7.1 
5.7 
5.3 
4.5 
4.3 

4.1 
4.0 
3.9 
3.7 
3.5 
5.7 


0.28 
.13 
.10 
.16 
.30 

.37 
.36 
.36 
.21 
.13 

.10 

" ".'io' 
""'".'is' 

""Vm 
.20 

"".'ie" 
.20 

"".'is' 

.15 
.11 
.08 


13.0 
6.4 
6.3 
7.5 

14.0 

18.7 
18.0 
18.0 
9.7 
6.4 

5.3 
5.3 
5.3 
6.0 
6.4 

5.9 
5.4 
4.9 
4.3 
9.2 

8.6 
8.1 
7.5 
9.2 
9.0 

8.8 
8.4 
7.1 
5.7 
4.8 
7.0 


0.20 
.28 

"■"."26" 
........ 

.05 


9.2 


2 






0.54 
.46 
.46 
.38 

.34 
.32 

.28 
.27 
.25 

.28 


13.0 


3 






12.5 








12.0 


5 






11.0 


6 






10.0 








9.0 


g 






7.9 


q 






6 6 


10 






5.3 


11 






4.0 


12 








13 






.25 






14 










15 






.20 

.18 
.18 






16 










17 










Ig 










19 






.13 
.13 

.15 
.11 
.10 
.07 






on 










21 










22 










23 . 










24 










25 










26 












27 


1.00 
.70 


138 
62 
56 
50 


.05 

""■'63" 
.11 






2g 






29 






30 









31 


















Mean 




73.7 
1.45 

.22 




11.9 
.233 

.27 




8.4 
.165 

.19 


:::::::: 


9.1 






.178 


Run-ofl, depth in inches on drainage 




.07 








1909. 
1 






0.70 
.64 
.57 
.60 
.54 

.54 
.46 
.40 
.44 
.42 

.38 
.36 
.29 
.28 
.26 

.20 
.20 
.20 
.19 
.18 

.15 
.13 
.15 
.15 
.10 

.08 
.10 
.10 
.08 
.08 
.07 


46 
38 
30 
33 
27 

27 

19.8 

15.0 

18.2 

16.6 

13.9 

12.7 

9.0 

8.6 

7.9 

5.8 
5.8 
5.8 
5.5 
5.2 

4.4 
3.8 
4.4 
4.4 
3.0 

2.6 
3.0 
3.0 
2.6 
2.6 
2.4 


0.06 
.06 
.10 
.26 
.30 

.19 
.12 
.09 
.46 

.58 

.43 
.36 
.26 
.20 
.16 

.14 
.12 
.10 
.08 
.08 

.07 
.06 
.06 
.05 
.05 

.04 
.04 
.04 
.06 
.09 
.08 


2.2 
2.2 
3.0 
7.9 
9.3 

5.5 
3.6 
2.8 

19.8 

31 

17.4 

12.7 

7.9 

5.8 
4.7 

4.1 
3.6 
3.0 
2.6 
2.6 

2.4 
2.2 
2.2 
2.0 
2.0 

1.7 
1.7 
1.7 
2.2 
2.8 
2.6 


0.10 
.10 
.10 
.09 
.09 

.10 
.08 
.06 
.06 
.06 

.05 
.04 
.04 
.10 
.12 

.12 
.11 
.10 


3.0 


2 






3.0 


3 






3.0 


4 






2.8 


5 






2.8 


6 






3.0 


7 






2.6 


8 






2.2 


9 






2.2 


10 






2.2 


11 






2.0 


12 






1.7 


13 






1.7 


14 






3.0 








3.6 


16 






3.6 


17 






3.3 








3.0 










20 










21 .... 


1.26 
1.01 


188 

109 

84 

59 

46 

46 
52 
56 
46 
46 


















24 


.78 
.70 

.70 
.74 
.76 
.70 
.70 






25 












27 . . 






28 






29 ... 












31 
















Mean 




73.2 
1.44 

.54 




12.5 
.245 

.28 




5.65 
.111 

.13 




2.71 


Mf»an r«r sqiiare Tnilft 




.053 






.04 









KOUGABOK EIVEB DRAINAGE BASIN. 



213 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Henry Creek at mouth for 1908- 

1910— Continued. 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


i 


1 


s 


P 


O 


1 


1, 
I 

1 


« 


1 


1 
s 


1, 
1 


1 

S 


1910. 
1 






0.32 
.32 
.40 
.38 
.28 

.28 
.25 
.28 
.32 
.35 

.35 
.30 
.30 
.30 
.72 

.80 
90 
.70 
.60 
.50 


16 
16 
20 

15 
15 
15 
62 

65 
87 
49 
37 
27 


'i."65' 
1.15 
.80 
.70 

1.95 
1.70 
1.70 
1.25 

.75 

.80 
.85 
.80 
.75 
.72 

.70 


155 

342 

166 

65 

48 

449 
359 
359 
200 
56 

64 
75 
64 
56 
51 

48 


1910. 
21 


L60 

.88 
.58 
.59 
.88 

.70 
.55 
.60 
.55 
.45 
.39 


323 
82 
34 
35 
82 

48 
31 
36 
31 
22 
18 


0.40 
.35 
.35 
.45 
.60 

.55 
.40 

.40 
.35 
.30 
.30 


20 
17 
17 
23 
37 

32 
20 
20 
17 
15 
15 






2 






22 






3 






23 






4 






24 






5 


1.10 

1.05 
1.03 

.87 
.77 
.70 

.82 
.80 
.83 
.73 
.70 

.65 
.60 
.91 
.56 
1.14 


145 

128 
121 
76 
56 
45 

65 
61 
68 
50 
46 

42 
36 
89 
32 
162 


25 






6 . 


26 






7 


27 






8 . . 


28 






g 


29 . ... 






10 


30 








31 








Mean. 
Mean per 
square 
mile.. 






12 




72.7 
1.43 

1.44 





24.9 
.49 

.56 




160 


13 




14 




15 


3.14 


16 


Run-off, 
depth in 
inches on 
drainage 
area . . 






17 




18 









19. . 







1.87 


20 





















Note. — The estimated discharge of the Henry Creek ditch was added to the discharge corresponding to 
the gage height for each day to determine the natural flow. As no measurements were made in 1910, the 
1909 rating was used on the assumption that channel conditions remained the same throughout the two 



COARSE GOLD CREEK NEAR MOTJTH. 

Coarse Gold Creek rises opposite the headwaters of Marys Kiver, 
flows in a northeasterly direction for about 16 miles, and enters 
Kougarok River just below the big bend previously mentioned. 
The upper portion of the creek is relatively flat, the lower portion has 
a grade of 40 to 80 feet to the mile. 

Th-e Galvin ditch, constructed in 1907, has its intake about 5 miles 
above the mouth and is built along the south slope of the valley, 
picking up the flow of Jones Gulch and Nugget Gulch. It extends 
about 5 miles to Twobit Gulch, a small tributary of Kougarok 
River, where a head of nearly 300 feet is obtained. 

Miscellaneous measurements were made in 1907 and 1908, and in 
1909 a station was established and gage readings obtained. Records 
at this point show the water available for the ditch, as practically the 
whole flow can be diverted. On account of poor measuring condi- 
tions and a considerable shift in the channel only approximate results 
were obtained. 

A minimum discharge of 0.9 second-feet occurred for the week July 
21 to 27, 1909. 



214 



SUEFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWAKD PENINSULA. 



Discharge measurements of Coarse Gold Creek near mouth in 1907-1909. 
[Elevation, 341 feet.] 



July 21 . 
Aug. 12. 
Aug. 23. 
Aug. 26. 
Aug. 28. 
Sept. 6.. 
Sept. 8.- 
Sept. 15. 



Date. 



1907. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
7.8 
3.0 

44 

29 

30 



156 



June 26. 
June 28. 
July 26. 

June 20. 
....do . 
July 21. 
Aug. 31. 



Date. 



Gage 
leight. 



Feet. 



1.12 

1.34 

.28 

.30 



charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
30 
35 
1.4 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Coarse Gold Creeh near mouth 

for 1909. 

[Drainage area, 34 square miles. Observer, Chas. Graf.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


J 










0.30 
.30 
.32 
.34 
.37 

.36 
.36 
.36 
.43 
.44 

.46 
.51 

.49 
.48 

.47 

.46 
.44 
.41 
.40 
.39 

.39 
.38 
.38 
.39 
.40 

.40 
.42 
.44 
.46 
.34 
.30 


1.3 
1.3 
1.7 
2.1 

2.8 

2.5 
2.5 
2.5 
4.4 

4.7 

5.3 
7.0 
6.0 
5.6 
5.3 

4.9 
4.3 
3.5 
3.2 
2.9 

2.9 

2.7 
2.7 
2.9 
3.2 

3.2 
3.8 
4.3 
4.9 

1.7 
.8 


0.34 
.32 
.32 
.32 
.33 

.32 
.31 
.31 
.30 
.30 

.30 
.30 
.31 
.55 


1.7 


2 










1 2 


3 . 










1.2 


4 










1.2 


5 










1.5 


6 










1.2 


7 










1.0 


g 










1.0 


9 










.8 


10 










.8 


11 










.8 


12 










.8 


13 










1.0 


14 










8.0 


15 












16 














17 














18 














19 














20 


1.23 

1.00 
.76 
.58 
.49 
.59 

.88 
1.02 


61 

37 

19 
9.7 
6.3 

10.1 

27 
39 
40 
30 
30 










21 


0.28 

■■".'27" 
.30 

.28 
.28 
.29 
.30 
.28 
.29 


.9 
.9 
.9 
.8 
1.3 

.9 

.9 

1.1 

1.3 

.9 

1.1 






22 






23 






24 






25 






26 






27 






28 






29 








30 








31 


















Mean 




28.1 




1.0 
.03 

.01 




3.4 
.10 

.12 





1.6 


Mean per square mile ^ . . . . 




.05 


Run-off, depth in inches on drainage 








.03 













Note.— About 6 second-feet of water was diverted into the Galvin ditch June 20-30. This amount is not 
included in the discharges given above. There was also a small amoiint of water running in the ditch 
August 9-12. 



KOUGABOK BWEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 



215 



NORTH FORK ABOVE EUREKA CREEK. 

North Fork is formed by the junction of French and Alder creeks 
and enters Kougarok River from the east about a mUe below the 
mouth of Coarse Gold Creek. Its principal tributaries are Ilarris, 
Baldy, Monument, Queen, Magnet, and Eureka creeks. Harris 
Creek is dry during low water for the lower 4 miles, as the water 
flows underground through the limestone which forms its bed. On 
the upper portion of North Fork the water also flows underground 
at low stages and comes to the surface in the form of a spring about a 
mile above the mouth of Harris Creek. 

In 1906 the Northwestern Development Co. began a ditch which 
has its intake just below the junction of French and Alder creeks, 
extends along the north bank about 3 miles, and then crosses in a 
siphon to the south bank. Six miles of ditch is completed. 

Mscellaneous measurements were made above Eureka Creek in 
1907, and on June 29, 1908, a regular gaging station was established 
there. Readings were obtained during the next two seasons and 
the records are good, except during a short period in July, 1909, 
when the gage was affected by backwater from a mining dam. A 
new gage was set farther up stream on July 22, 1909. As no high- 
water measurements were obtained after this date the maximum 
discharges for the later part of 1909 are uncertain. 

The lowest recorded discharge for one week is 7.9 second-feet, 
July 24 to 30, 1908. No extreme high water was recorded. 

Discharge measurements of North Fork above Eureka Creek, 1907 to 1909. 
[Elevation, 370 feet.] 



Date. 



height. 



Dis- 
charge. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Dis- 
charge. 



July 22. 
Aug. 15. 
Aug. 27. 
Sept. 7.. 
Sept. 15. 



June 29. 
July 2.. 
July 25. 



1907. 



Feet. 



Sec.-ft. 
13 



).6 



1908. 



1.25 

1.15 

.67 



103 

70 

122 



37 
26 
7.9 



June 20. . 

July 22.. 

Do... 



Feet. 

1.48 
a. 70 
a. 70 



Sec.-ft. 
102 
6 9.0 
C9.0 



o The gage was reset July 22 at a different section. The reading of the old gage was estimated at 0.64 
for this stage. 
b Measured above Eureka Creek, 
c Measured below Eureka Creek. The discharge of Eureka Creek was negligible. 



216 



SUEFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PEKINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of North Forh above Eureka Creek 

for 1908-9. 
[Drainage area, 66 square miles Observer, A. Martell.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


1 


r 




1 

ft 


i 
1 

1 


1 

s 


1 


ft 


i 


s 


1 


1 


1908. 
1 


0.70 
1.35 
1.30 
1.25 
1.25 

1.25 

1.13 

.95 

.88 
.88 

.85 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 

.75 
.74 
.76 
.70 
.70 


8.4 
50 
43 
37 
37 

37 

25 

15.0 

12.5 

12.5 

11.6 
10.3 
10.3 
10.3 
10.3 

9.4 

9.2 

9.5 

8.4 

8.4 


68 
66 
68 
70 
72 

85 
84 
80 
77 
78 

77 
78 
74 
70 
68 

68 
68 
68 
68 
68 


8.1 

7.8 
7.8 
8.4 
8.8 

11.6 

11.4 

10.3 

9.7 

9.9 

9.7 
9.9 
9.2 
8.4 
8.1 

8.1 
8.1 
8.1 
8.1 
8.1/ 


0.72 
.72 
.71 
.70 
.70 

.70 
.70 
.70 
.68 


8.8 
8.8 
8.6 
8.4 
8.4 

8.4 
8.4 
8.4 
8.1 


1908. 
21 


.70 
.70 
.70 
.70 
.67 

.66 
.66 
.66 
.65 
.68 
.71 


8.4 
8.4 
8.4 
8.4 
7.9 

7.8 
7.8 
7.8 
7.6 
8.1 
8.6 


.67 
.68 
.70 
.70 

.68 

.68 
.68 
.67 
.67 
.66 
.73 


7.9 
8.1 

8.4 
8.4 
8.1 

8.1 
8.1 
7.9 
7.9 
7.8 
9.0 






2 


22.. 






3 


23 






4 


24 






5 


25 






6 


26 






7 


27 






8 


28 






9 


29 






10 


30 






11 






31 






12 






Mean. . 

Mean per 

square 







15.0 
.23 

.27 





8.7 
.13 

.15 






13 






8.5 


14 








15 






.13 


16 






R u n - ff , 
depth in 
inches on 
dr ainage 
area 




17 








18 








19 








20 






.04 















Note.— The mean discharge for June 29-30 was 23.4 second-feet. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 

height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1909. 
1 . . 






0.96 
.90 
.91 

.87 
.84 

.81 
.78 
.76 
.74 

.77 

.74 
.74 
.72 
.68 
.68 

.66 
.66 
.66 


21 

17.1 

17.7 

15.9 

14.6 

13.4 
12.5 
11.9 
11.4 
12.2 

11.4 
11.4 
10.8 
9.8 
9.8 

9.4 
9.4 
9.4 
9.3 
9.2 

9.1 
9.0 
9.0 
8.8 
9.0 

9.0 
9.0 

8.8 
8.6 
8.4 
8.4 


0.67 

.67 
.68 
.68 
.67 

.67 
.67 
.68 
.74 
1.30 

1.45 
.92 
.90 
.86 
.82 

.80 
.80 

.78 
.77 
.75 

.76 
.74 
.72 
.71 
.71 

.71 
.71 
.73 
.73 

.72 
.71 


8.4 
8.4 
8.6 
8.6 
8.4 

8.4 
8.4 
8.6 
9.9 

47 

78 

15.4 

14.5 

13.2 

11.9 

11.3 
11.3 
10.8 
10.6 
10.2 

10.4 
9.9 
9.5 
9.2 
9.2 

9.2 
9.2 
9.7 

9.7 
9.5 
9.2 


0.72 
.72 
.72 
.72 
.73 

.72 
.71 
.71 
.70 
.70 

.70 
.70 
.69 


9.5 


2 






9.5 


3 







9.5 


4 . . . 






9.5 


5 







9.7 


6 






9.5 


7 






9.2 


8 






9.2 


9 






9.0 


10 






9.0 


11 .... 






9.0 


12 






9.0 


13 






8.8 


14 








15 










16 










17 










18.*. . .:. . . 










19 . 










20 


1.60 

1.58 
1.28 
1.15 
1.11 
1.02 

1.01 
1.01 
1.01 
1.02 
.96 


120 

115 
55 
36 
32 
25 

24 
24 
24 
25 
21 


"'a.' 70' 
.70 
.69 
.70 

.70 
.70 
.69 
.68 
.67 
.67 






21 






22 






23 






24 






25 






26 






27 






28 






29 






30 






31 

















Mean 




45.5 
.690 

.28 




11.1 

.168 

.19 


.;::::;: 


13.4 
.203 

.23 




9.26 


Mean per square mile 




.140 


Run-off, depth in inches on drainage 
area 




.07 









A new gage was set farther upstream to avoid the effect of back-water from a mining dam. 



KOUGAEOK RIVEB DKAINAGE BASIH. 



217 



DITCHES. 



HOMESTAKE DITCH AT PENSTOCK. 



The Homestake ditch of the Kugarok Mining & Ditch Co. was 
begun in 1905 and completed in 1907. It diverts the water from 
the upper Kougarok, near Mascot Gulch, and extends along the left 
bank of the river to a point opposite the mouth of Homestake Creek, 
having a total length of 7^ miles. The water is carried across 
Macklin Creek in a siphon 843 feet long, of 36 and 34 inch pipe. 

Above Macklin Creek the ditch is built into the rocky bluffs of 
close-grained schists and slates for about 1 mile. Below the siphon 
some ground ice was encountered, as well as a large amount of loose 
rock mixed with ice and frozen muck, which gave much trouble. 
Nearly half the length of the ditch had to be lined with sod, some 
parts requiring both sides and bottom of this material. In 1907 a 
lateral ditch was built to Macklin Creek. It is 6,300 feet long and 
4 feet wide on the bottom. 

The water was used during the latter part of 1906 in the bed of the 
river just above Taylor Creek. A waste ditch was formed by a 
retaining wall built on one side of the channel, but at times this was 
overtopped and the workings flooded. The discharge of the river at 
such times is estimated at 600 to 800 second-feet. 

During the season of 1907 the water was used on the John L. bench 
claim, on the right bank of the river below Homestake Creek. A 
head of about 150 feet is available on this claim. In 1908 and 1909 
only a small amount of work was done, owing to lack of water. 

A gaging station was maintained above the penstock during a 
portion of 1907 to determme the amount of water used at the mine. 
The gage was located about half a mile above the penstock, above 
the backwater caused by shutting off the water at the mine, which 
caused the water to overflow the weir and run out at the lower end 
of the ditch. No record was kept in 1908 or 1909, because of the 
small amount of water delivered. 

Discharge measurements of Homestake ditch above penstock in 1907. 



July 20. 
July 29. 
Aug. 21, 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



1.19 
1.49 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
5.5 
2.2 
9.1 
15.6 



Date. 



Aug. 22. 
Aug. 26 
Sept. 11 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.47 
1.60 
1.74 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
15.0 
17.9 
21 



218 



SUBFACE WATEB SUPPLY OF SEWAEB PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Homestake ditch above penstock 

for 1907. 

[Observer, John Watson.] 





August. 


September. 


Day. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 






1.76 
1.70 
1.62 
1.75 
1.3^ 

1.70 
1.70 
1.70 
1.72 
1.52 

1.74 
1.75 
1.76 
1.76 
1.76 


21.5 
20.2 
18.4 
21.3 
16.7 

20.2 
20.2 
20.2 
20.6 
16.2 

21.1 
21.3 
21.5 
21.5 
21.5 


16 






1.74 
1.76 
1.76 

1.68 
1.15 


21.1 


2 






17 






21.5 


3 






18 






21.5 


4 






19 






17.8 


5 






20 






8.4 


6 






21 


1.34 
1.48 
1.54 
1.54 
1.60 

1.60 
1.56 
1.58 
1.58 
1.68 
1.70 


12.3 
15.4 
16.7 
16.7 
18.0 

18.0 
17.1 
17.6 
17.6 
19.8 
20.2 




7 






22 






8 






23 






9 






24 






10 






25 






11 






26 






12 






27 






13 






28 






14 






29 






15 






30 












31 








Mean 










17.2 




19.6 











NORTH STAR DITCH ABOVE SIPHON. 

The North Star ditch of the Taylor Creek Ditch Co. was begun in 
1905 and completed in 1907. It diverts water from Taylor Creek 
about 12 miles above its mouth and about 3 miles above the mouth 
of Solomon Creek. The ditch lies on the left bank for the first mile, 
then crosses the creek in a flume and continues on the right bank to 
a point 7 miles below the intake. Here it crosses Taylor Creek in a 
siphon 2,600 feet long, which is described more fully on page 262. 
Below the siphon the ditch receives the flow of Rock Creek and con- 
tinues to Arctic Creek, having a total length of 15.2 miles. 

Water was turned into the ditch at the intake about August 5, but 
was not run through the siphon until about the 20th. The water 
was used on the Thorson bench, on the left bank of Kougarok River, 
and for stripping on Dreamy Gulch, a small tributary from the east. 

The station above the siphon was established August 21, 1907, to 
determine the amount of water diverted past the gage at the Cascade 
intake. The quantity used at the mines includes in addition the dis- 
charge of Rock Creek. 



Discharge measurements of North Star ditch above siphon in 1907. 



Aug, 10. 
Aug. 21. 
Aug. 24. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



1.05 
.50 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
o2.9 
5.0 
0.0 



Sept. 5.. 

Sept. 13. 

Do.. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.14 
1.24 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
7.1 
9.7 
• 7.9 



« Measured at intake. 



KOUGAEOK EIVER DRAINAGE BASIK. 



219 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of North Star ditch above siphon 

for 1907. 

[Observer, employee of Taylor Creek Ditch Co.] 





August. 


September. 


Day. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height'. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 






1.21 
1.16 
1.11 
1.16 
1.18 

1.17 
1.18 
1.14 
1.14 
1.28 

1.30 
1.22 
1.25 
1.24 
1.30 


8.8 
7.5 
6.2 
7.5 
8.0 

7.8 
8.0 
7.0 
7.0 
11.3 

12.0 
9.2 

10.2 
9.9 

12.0 


16 






1.28 
1.22 
1.22 


11,3 


2 






17 






9.2 


3 






18 ... 






9.2 


4 






19 








5 






20 .. 











6 






21 


1.05 
1.04 
1.09 


5.2 
5.0 
5.8 
.0 
8.0 

7.0 
5.2 
7.2 
8.0 
7.0 
7.5 






7 






22 






8 






23 






9 






24 






10 






25 


1.18 

1.14 
1.05 
1.15 
1.18 
1.14 
1.16 






11 






26 






12 






27 






13 




a 1.5 


28 






14. .. 




29 






15 






30 










• 


31 








Mean 










6.0 




9.0 











o Estimated. 



CASCADE DITCH. 



The Cascade ditch was built in 1906. It diverts water from Taylor 
Creek about 7 miles above its mouth and 110 feet lower than the North 
Star ditch. For the first quarter of a mile the ditch lies on the left 
bank of the creek; it then crosses to the right bank in a flume about 60 
feet long, and extends within half a mile of the mouth of Taylor Creek, 
having a total length of 61 mUes. The flow of the ditch was very 
irregular during 1907, on account of breaks, repairs, and interruption 
of work at the mine. The water was used to run a hydraulic elevator 
in the bed of Taylor Creek. The water supply of the ditch was 
insufficient for this purpose during the first two weeks of August, 
and the pit was flooded on account of insufficient wasteway capacity 
most of the time after August 20. 

A list of measurements of the discharge of the ditch is given on 
page 221. 

MISCELLANEOFS MEASUREMENTS. 



The foUo^ving pages contain a list of miscellaneous measurements 
made in the Kougarok River drainage basin: 



220 SUBFACE WATEB SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

Miscellaneous measurements in Kougaroh River basin from 1907 to 1909. 

















Dis- 










Ele- 


Dis- 
charge. 


Drain- 


charge 


Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to— 


LocaUty. 


va- 
tion. 


age 
area. 


per 
square 
















mile. 










Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Sq.mi. 


Sec.-ft. 


July 27,1907 


Kougarok River. . . 


Kuzitrin River... 


Below WasTiington 

Creek. 
do 


860 


4.5 


16.7 


0.27 


Aug. 12,1907 


do 


do 


860 


2.2 


16.7 


.13 


Sept. 9,1907 


do 


do 


do 


860 


122 


16.7 


7.30 


July 26,1907 


do 


do 


Above Taylor Creek. 


433 


18.5 


81 


.23 


July 29,1907 


do 


do 


do.... 


433 


8.0 


81 


.099 


Aug. 10,1907 


do..... 


do 


do 


433 


5.1 


81 


.063 


July 24,1909 


do 


do 


do 


433 


4.0 


81 


.049 


July 25,1908 


do..... 


do 


Below Coarse Gold 
Creek. 


341 


11.3 


288 


.039 


Aug. 12,1907 
Sept. 9,1907 


Washington Creek . 


Kougarok River. 
do 


860 


.13 


6.3 


.021 


do 


do 


860 


40 


6.3 


6.35 


July 27,1907 


Columbia Creek... 


do 


Near mouth 


670 


1.5 


11.6 


.13 


Sept. 9,1907 


do 


do 


do 


670 


19.0 


11.6 


1.64 


Aug. 19,1907 


Macklin Creek 


.....do 


Above intake 


610 


5.5 


8.9 


.62 


Aug. 22,1907 


do 


do 


do 


610 


18.6 


8.9 


2.09 


Sept. 11,1907 


do 


do 


do 


610 


20 


8.9 


2.25 


June 27,1908 


do 


do 


do 


610 


3.8 


8.9 


.43 


Aug. 22,1907 


Homestake Creek.. 


do 


Near mouth, includ- 
ing ditch. 


440 


7.0 


5.4 


1.30 


Sept. 6,1907 
July 17,1907 


do 


do 


do 


440 


8.7 


5.4 


1.61 


Taylor Creek 


do 


At North Star ditch* 


700 


12 


58 


.21 








intake. 










July 24,1907 


do 


do 


do 


700 


174 


58 


3.00 


Aug. 10,1907 


do 


do 


do 


700 


3.8 


58 


.066 


Sept. 13,1907 
Aug. 30,1909 


do 


do 


do 


700 
480 


94 

8.5 


68 
83 


1 62 


do 


do 


At North Star ditch 
siphon, including 


.10 














ditch. 










July 17,1907 


do 


do 


At mouth, includtag 

ditches. 
do 


433 


18.0 


90 


.20 


July 26,1907 


do 


do 


433 


46 


90 


.51 


July 29,1907 


do 


do 


do 


433 


9.6 


90 


.11 


Aug. 10,1907 


ao 


do 


do... 


433 


7.2 


90 


.080 


July 24,1909 


do 


do 


do 


433 


2.8 


90 


.031 


Aug. 9, 1909 


do 

do 


do 


do 


433 
433 


6.6 
103 


90 
90 


.073 


Aug. 10,1909 


do . .. 


do 


1.14 


July 16,1907 


Lillian Creek 


Henry Greek 

do 


Above Henry Creek 

ditch. 
.....do 


670 


1.0 






Aug. 20,1907 


do 


670 


.6 






Sept. 12,1907 


do 


do 


do 


670 


6.0 






July 21,1907 


Arctic Creek 


Kougarok River.. 


Near mouth. 


400 


.6 


6.3 


.095 


Aug. 26,1907 


do 


do 


400 


1.5 


6.3 


.24 


Sept. 6,1907 


do 


do 


do 


400 


3.0 


6.3 


.48 


Aug. 29,1907 


California Creek... 


do 


do 


390 


1.1 


3.9 


.28 


Do.. 


Arizona Creek . 


. do 


Near mouth, includ- 
ing ditch. 
do 


400 


3.3 


10 


.33 
















Sept. 8,1907 


do 


do 


400 


6.2 
5.6 


10 
22 


.62 


July 21,1907 


Coarse Gold Creek. 


do 


Below Jones Gulch.. 


.25 


July 30,1907 


do 


do 


Below Nugget Gulch 




3.5 


31 


.11 


Aug. 8,1907 


do 


do 


do 




3.4 


31 


.11 


Aug. 12,1907 


do 


do 


do 




3.0 


31 


.97 


July 22,1907 


North Fork 


do 


Below junction of 
French - Alder 
Creek. 


540 


2.5 


19.8 


1.26 


Aug. 15,1907 


do 


do 


do 


540 


.7 


19.8 


.035 


Aug. 27,1907 


do 


do 


do 


540 


31 


19.8 


1.57 


Sept. 7,1907 


do 


do 


do 


540 


17.0 


19.8 


.86 


Aug. 30,1909 


do 


do 


do 


540 


.7 


19.8 


.035 


July 22,1907 


Harris Creek 


North Fork 


AtClaiml5 




1.0 


11.7 


.086 


June 20,1909 


Eureka Creek 


do 


Near mouth, includ- 
ing ditch. 


370 


5.4 


3.1 


1.74 


July 5, 1908 


Left Fork 


Kougarok River.. 




370 


1.8 
9.0 


5.4 
27 


.33 


July 13,1907 


Windy Creek 


Above Anderson 


.33 








Gulch, including 
















ditch. 










July 31,1907 


do 


do 


do 




4.8 


27 


.18 


Aug. 8,1907 


do 


do 


do 




3.0 


27 


.11 


June 25,1908 


do 


do 


do 




15.2 


27 


.56 


June 29,1908 


do 


do 


do 




8.5 


27 


.31 


July 24,1908 
June 19,1909 


do 

do 

do 


do 


do 




2.1 

20 
1.2 


27 
27 

27 


.078 


do 


do 




.74 


July 26,1909 


do 


do 




.044 


Sept. 2,1909 


do 


do 


do 




1.9 
5 


27 


.070 


July 12,1907 


Coffee Creek 


do 


Tlftln'w W^ n n d ft r 










Gulch. 











AMEEICAIS^ BIVER DEAINAGE BASIN. 



221 



Miscellaneous disdtarge measurements of ditches in Kougaroh River drainage basin from 

1907 to 1909. 



Date. 



Ditch. 



Diverts from- 



Locality. 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sept. 9,1907 
June 27.1908 

Do. 

June 28,1908 
Sept. 10,1908 
Aug. 19,1907 

Do 

Do 

Sept. 11, 1907 
Aug. 19,1907 
Aug. 22,1907 
Sept. 6,1907 
Aug. 30,1909 
Sept. 3,1909 
Sept. 15, 1909 
Aug. 10,1907 
Aui;. 18,1907 
Aug. 21,1907 
Sept. 5,1907 
Aug. 29,1907 
Sept. 8,1907 
June 20,1909 

Do 

Do 

July 31,1907 
Aug. 8,1907 
June 25,1908 
June 29,1908 
July 24,1908 
July 26,1909 
Sept. 2,1909 



Irving 

Homestaie. 
....do 



do 

do 

McMonagle 

Dolan and McFadden. 

Blocker and Sayle 

do 

MackUn branch 

Okdurok 

do 

North Star 

do 

do 

Cascade 

do 

do 

-.-.do 

Arizooa Creek 

..-.do 

Galvin 



.do. 



Eur^a Creek . . 
Windy Creek.. 

do 

....do 

-...do 

...-do 

...-do 

....do 



K0U£ 



rok River. - 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

Macklin Creek 

Homestake Creek . 

do 

Taylor Creek 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

Arizona Creek 

do 

Coarse Gold Creek. 

do 

Eureka Creek 

Windy Creek 

do 



At intake 

Above penstock . 
do 



...-do 

...-do 

Below intake. 

----do 

-.-.do 

--..do 



..--do 

Below pipe line 

do 

Below siphon 

do 

do 

Flume near intake - 

Near penstock 

do 

....do 

Below intake 

do 

Above i)enstock - - . 
do 



Near outlet 

Above Anderson Gulch. 
do - 



-do. 
-do. 
-do. 
.do. 
.do. 



Sec. 



-ft. 
12.4 
1.9 

tl 

.8 
3.0 
2.5 
3.0 
4.1 
4.0 
3.0 
2.3 
7.4 
4.5 
8.7 
4.4 
5.8 
4.5 
7.1 
1.8 
1.8 
5.8 
7.6 
1.2 
1.8 
1.0 
2.1 
1.5 
1.3 
1.0 



AMERICAN RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



American River, the North Fork of the Agiapuk, drains a large area 
west of the Kougarok basin. Measurements were made only on 
Budd Creek, the tributary on which the most extensive development 
work has been done. 

Budd Creek rises northwest of Kougarok Mountain and flows 
southeastward to the mouth of Eldorado Creek, thence southwest- 
ward to American River above the forks. The waters of Budd and 
Eldorado creeks sink into the limestone which forms their beds and 
after flowing from 2 to 4 miles underground appear as springs. 
Windy Creek is a large tributary from the south, on which some 
mining has been done. 

In 1907 a ditch was built on the north bank of Budd Creek by the 
Ottumwa Gold Mining Co. It takes its water just below the spring 
and extends to a point below the mouth of Windy Creek, a distance 
of 8 miles. A head of about 160 feet is obtained. 

The following measurements were made August 31, when the water 
was at about as low a stage as it reached during the season, as the 
rains began later here than in the Kougarok basin: 

Budd Creek below Bpring, drainage area, 58 square miles; discharge, 25 second-feet. 
Budd Creek below Windy Creek, drainage area, 108 square miles; discharge, 39 
second-feet. 



222 SUKFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWAKD PENINSULA. 

SEBPENTINE RIVEE, DRAINAGE BASIN. 
DESCRIPTION. 

Serpentine River drains a large area of the Arctic slope of Seward 
Peninsula lying north of the Kougarok and American River basins. 
It rises on the western slope of Midnight Mountain and flows in a 
northwesterly direction for about 45 miles to its mouth, where it 
empties into Shishmaref Inlet, a large, shallow lagoon l3ring inside of 
the barrier beach that fringes the coast. It receives the waters of 
North and South forks and a number of other small tributaries 
rising in the divide between the Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean drain- 
age basins. The lower portion of the river meanders across the 
broad flats which border the Arctic, and it is probable that the river 
has been named from its tortuous course in this section. 

Schlitz Creek with its tributary, Reindeer Creek, forms the true 
head of the river. A ditch about 8 miles long was surveyed by the 
Kougarok Mining & Ditch Co., with which it was proposed to divert 
the flow of these creeks over a divide to the head of Macklin Creek. 
The low-water flow of the streams, however, proved to be so small 
that practically no constructive work was done. Hot Springs Creek 
rises in an area of granite hiUs north of Midnight Mountain and 
flows westward into the main stream. Bryan Creek rises in the 
divide east of Kougarok Mountain and flows northeastward into the 
Serpentine. Dick Creek, upon which gold has been found in paying 
quantities, is its principal tributary, and enters from the south. A 
ditch built by the Pittsburg-Dick Creek Mining Co. in 1906 and 1907 
to divert the waters of Bryan Creek extends along the north bank of 
Dick Creek for about 6| miles to the mouth of the creek, where a 
head of 170 feet is obtained. Quartz Creek rises west of Kougarok 
Mountain and flows northward to the main river, Bismark Creek 
is a small tributary of Quartz Creek, which rises just east of Kou- 
garok Mountain. In 1907 the Pittsburg-Dick Creek Mining Co. 
began the construction of a ditch to divert the water from this creek 
over the divide to Bryan Creek, where it is picked up by the Bryan 
Creek ditch. This ditch was completed to Bismark Creek in 1908 
and a small amount of construction work was done toward Quartz 
Creek. The Quartz Creek ditch is about 350 feet higher in elevation 
than the Bryan Creek ditch. 

As there are no good maps of the Serpentine River basin, drainage 
areas and accurate elevations can not be stated for any of the streams. 
The only gaging station maintained in this basin was on Quartz Creek 
above Bismark Creek during August, 1907. 



GOODHOPE EIVER DEAINAGE BASIN". 



223 



QUARTZ CREEK ABOVE BISMARK CREEK. 

A gage was established on Quartz Creek July 28, 1907, about a 
mile below the proposed intake and about the same distance above 
Bismark Creek. This point is some 200 feet lower in elevation than 
the intake, and for this reason probably not more than 75 per cent 
of the discharge at the station is available for the ditch. Most of 
the low-water flow comes from springs, which help to maintain a 
better run-off than on neighboring streams. The low- water flow was 
probably considerably less in 1908 and 1909 than in 1907, when the 
records were obtained. 



Gage heights, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Quartz Creek above Bismark Creek 

for 1907. 

[Observer, S. G. Revelas.] 



Date. 



Measurements. 



July 19. 
July 28. 
Sept. 2. 



Gage readings. 



Aug. 1. 
Aug. 3. 



Gage 
height. 



Discharge. 



8.2 

9.0 

25.0 



9.6 
9.0 



Date. 



Gage readings— Contd 

Aug. 5 

Aug. 7 

Aug. 9 

Aug. 11 

Aug. 13 

Aug. 15 

Aug. 17 

Aug. 19 



Gage 
height. 



Discharge. 



9.0 
9.6 
10.2 
9.0 
10.2 
10.2 
11.4 
11.4 



MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 



The following is a list of miscellaneous measurements made in the 
Serpentine River drainage basin: 

Miscellaneous measurements in Serpentine River drainage basin in 1907. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to- 


Locality. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Aug. 11 


Schlitz Creek 


Serpentine River 


Near proposed intake 

do 


Sec.-ft. 
7 


Sept. 4 
Aug. 11 


do 


do 


13 


Reindeer Creek 


Schlitz Creek 


do 


1 9 


Sept. 4 
July 19 


do 


do 


... do 


13 


Bryan Creek 


Serpentine River 


Near intake 


4 2 


July 27 


do 


do 


do 


6.0 


July 28 
Sept. 2 


do 


.. do . 


do 


6.5 


do 


do 


do 


15.5 


July 19 


Bismark Creek 


Quartz Creek 


I mile below intake 

Intake 


1.7 


July 28 


do 


do 


2.8 













GMDODHOPE RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 
DESCRIPTION. 

Goodhope River drains an area of 500 square miles, comprising the 
western part of the Fairhaven mining district, which rises among the 
lava flows a few miles northwest of Imuruk Lake. The main stream 



224 SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWAKD PENINSULA. 

is formed by the junction of Right Fork with Cottonwood Creek and 
flows in a general westerly and northwesterly course to Goodhope 
Bay. Its total length is about 50 miles. Esperanza, Placer, and 
Humboldt creeks, in the western portion of the basin, and Cotton- 
wood Creek and its tributaries. Trail, Divide, and Noyes creeks, from 
the northeast, are the principal confluents. These streams have 
coarse gravel beds, which in places are so loose that almost all the low- 
water flow sinks into the gravel. This condition is especially notable 
on Cottonwood Creek just above its junction with Right Fork. 

The greater part of the basin embraces an area of interbedded lime- 
stone and schist, covered with lava, into which the river has cut a 
comparatively narrow and deep valley with well-defined lava rims 
on either side. Below Placer Creek the valley broadens and merges 
with the flats bordering Kotzebue Sound. 

Right Fork occupies a narrow canyon cut in the lava and receives 
water from lava springs, which may derive a part of their supply from 
Imuruk Lake. These springs furnish most of the discharge of the 
river during low stages, and their water, in the form of ice storage or 
*^ glacier" piled up during the winter, serves to augment the discharge 
considerably until the middle of July each year. 

Some gold was found on Esperanza Creek during the summer of 
1908, and prospecting and mining have been carried on in a small 
way since that time. If the returns obtained on Esperanza Creek 
should warrant it, a ditch 12 to 15 miles in length could be built to 
divert water from Right Fork below the springs. Records of flow 
obtained during 1909 indicate that an average of about 15 second- 
feet and a minimum of about 9 second-feet was available during the 
low-water period of that year for this purpose. A head of about 180 
feet could be obtained at the mouth of Esperanza Creek for hydraul- 
icking. 

A station was maintained on Goodhope River, below Esperanza 
Creek, in 1909. 

GOODHOPE RIVER BELOW ESPERANZA CREEK. 

This station was established June 24, 1909, at a point about 50 
feet below the mouth of Esperanza Creek and about 4 miles above 
Placer Creek. The data obtained here are valuable as a basis for 
estimating the amount of water available from Right Fork below the 
springs for hydraulic miniug on and near Esperanza Creek. 

The flat gravel bed of the river at the gaging station afforded good 
measuring sections and remained permanent throughout the period 
that records were kept. 

The period of extreme low water occurred during the interval 
between August 20 and the begiunuig of the freeze-up. The miQitnum 



GOODHOPE RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



225 



normal flow was recorded August 26 as 13 second-feet. The mini- 
mum flow of 10.4 second-feet for the season, which was registered 
September 13, was probably due in part to the drought and in part 
to the low temperature. 

Discharge measurements ofGoodhope River below Esperanza Creeh in 1909. 
[Elevation, about 100 feet.] 



Date. 



June 24. 
July 21. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.18 
.40 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
89 
24 



Date. 



July 21. 
Aug. 26- 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.46 
.21 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
27 
12.! 



discharge, in second-feet, ofGoodhope River below Esper- 
anza Creeh for 1909. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and 

[Drainage area, 194 square miles. Observer, Isaac Hatta.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gape 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 






0.90 
.90 

1.00 
.90 
.90 

.85 
.95 
.80 
.65 
.85 

.85 
.75 
.65 
.60 
.55 

.55 

.50 
.55 
.50 
.45 

.41 
.40 
.40 
.40 
.39 

.37 
.35 
.31 
.30 
.31 
.38 


63 
63 
72 
63 
63 

58 
68 
54 
41 
58 

58 
50 
41 
37 
34 

34 
30 
34 
30 
26 

24 
23 
23 
23 

22 

21 

20 

18.0 

17.5 

18.0 

22 


0.35 
.36 
.30 
.44 
.43 

.40 
.31 
.35 
.39 
.52 

.55 
.45 
.41 
.39 
.39 

.35 
.31 
.30 
.30 

.25 

.29 
.30 
.29 
.29 
.25 

.21 
.25 
.25 
.25 
.23 
.27 


20 

21 

17.5 

26 

25 

23 

18.0 

20 

22 

31 

34 

26 
24 
22 
22 

20 

18.0 

17.5 

17.5 

15.0 

17.0 
17.5 
17.0 
17.0 
15.0 

13.0 
15.0 
15.0 
15.0 
14.0 
16.0 


0.23 
.23 
.22 
.21 
.21 

.21 
.21 
.20 
.20 
.19 

.19 
.18 
.15 
.20 
.25 

.30 
.31 

.28 
.25 
.23 

.20 
.21 
.21 
.21 
.20 

.19 


14.0 


2 






14.0 


3 






13.5 


4 






13.0 


5 






13 


6 






13.0 


7 






13.0 


8 






12.5 


9 






12.5 


10 






12.1 


11 






12.1 


12 






11 7 


13 






10.4 


14 






12.5 


15 .... 






15 


16 






17 5 


17 






18.0 


18 






16 5 


19 






15 


20 






14.0 


21 






12.5 


22 






13.0 


23 






13.0 


24 


1.20 
1.00 

1.00 
1.10 
1.20 
1.00 

.85 


91 
72 

72 
81 
91 

72 
58 


13.0 


25 


12 5 


26 


12 1 


27 . . 




28 






29 






30 






31 
















Mean. 




76.7 
.395 

.10 





39.0 
.201 

.23 




19.7 
.102 

.12 




13 4 


Mp,a.n pp.r sqna.rp. milp, .... 




069 


Run-<A, depth in inches on drain- 
age area 




.07 









63851°— wsp 314—13 — ^15 



226 



SUKFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 



The following is a list of miscellaneous measurements made in the 
Goodhope River drainage basin: 

Miscellaneous measurements in Goodhope River basin in 1909. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to— 


LocaUty. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


Dis- 
charge 

per 
square 
mile. 


June 25 


Right Fork 

... do 


Goodhope River... 
do 


At mouth 


Feet. 
260 
260 
260 
330 

330 
330 
330 
330 
330 
100 
100 


Sec.-ft. 
38 
18.1 
12.4 

a 10. 4 

02.3 
0.78 
4.9 
1.74 
.27 
2.8 
ft. 25 


Sq. mi. 
80 
80 
80 
38 

38 

38 

10.6 

10.6 

10.6 

20 

20 


Sec-ft. 
0.48 


July 21 
Aug. 26 


do 


23 


do 


do 

do 


do 


.16 


Above Divide 
Creek, 
do 


.27 


July 21 
Aug. 26 
June 25 


do 

do 

Divide Creek 

do 


..do 


061 


do 


do 


021 


Cottonwood Creek.. 
do 


At mouth 


46 


July 21 
Aug. 26 
June 24 


do 


.16 


do 

Esperanza Creek... 
do 


do 


do 


.025 


Goodhope River. 


-do ... 


14 


July 21 


do 


do 


.012 











a Cottonwood Creek has considerable underflow through the gravel, so that measurements probably 
give too small discharge. 
b Discharge estimated. 

INMACHUK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



DESCBIPTION. 

Inmachuk River rises against the head of Trail Creek, a tributary 
of the Goodhope, flows northeastward, and empties into Kotzebue 
Sound at Deering. Its principal tributaries are Hannum Creek, 
from the northwest, and Pinnell River, from the south, each of 
which has a larger drainage area that the main stream above the 
junction. Arizona, Fink, Washington, West, Cue, and Mystic creeks 
are small tributaries below the mouth of Pinnell River. 

Hannum Creek occupies a deep and rather narrow valley. Its 
principal tributaries are Cunningham, Milroy, and Collins creeks. 
Pinnell River rises in a broad, flat swamp, or '^goose pasture,'' formed 
by the lava flow. About 6 or 8 miles from its source the river has 
cut down through the lava, forming a deep narrow canyon in which 
it drops 250 to 300 feet in about half a mile. Its principal tributaries 
are Magnet, June, Perry, and Old Glory creeks and Snow Gulch. 

A striking feature of Inmachuk Valley is the lava rim which 
extends down the Pinnell from the canyon, following the left side of 
the vaUey for several miles, then crossing to the the right side and 
extending down the Inmachuk to the coastal plain. It also extends 
up Hannum Creek nearly to its head. Below the canyon the rim is 
in general 300 to 400 feet above the level of the stream. 

The basins of Hannum Creek, Old Glory Creek, and Inmachuk 
River below Pinnell River contain placers which have been worked 
since 1900. 



INMACHUK KIVEK DEAINAGE BASIN. 227 

The only well-sustained water supply in this basin available at suffi- 
cient elevation for hydraulic mining is that furnished by limestone 
springs yielding 8 or 9 second-feet, the discharge from which enters 
the Inmachuk about 3 miles below its head and about the same dis- 
tance above the mouth of Hannum Creek. During periods of low 
water the flow of these springs represents the total flow of the river 
above Hannum Creek. A dam was built below them in 1909, and a 
ditch was started for diverting the water but was not completed, ow- 
ing to a controversy in regard to the ownership of the water right. 
A ditch having its intake on Hannum Creek at the mouth of Cun- 
ningham Creek was constructed in 1907. The amount of water avail- 
able at this point is contributed principally by melting snow, and 
consequently the supply has not been adequate for mining except on 
a small scale. The Fairhaven ditch, which diverts water from Lake 
Imuruk at the head of Kugruk River into the Inmachuk basin, is 
described in detail on pages 235-236. 

A gaging station was maintained on Inmachuk River below Logan 
Gulch during the summer of 1909. 

INMACHUK RIVER BELOW LOGAN GULCH. 

This station was established June 26, 1909, at the Fairhaven pipe- 
line crossing about half a mile below Logan Gulch and half a mile 
above Arizona Creek. The records kept during 1909, with the mis- 
cellaneous measurements, furnish a basis for a study of run-off in this 
drainage basin during an extremely dry year. Water was wasted 
into Logan Gulch from the lower penstock of the Fairhaven ditch, 
varying in amount from 0.5 second-foot to 6 or 8 second-feet. This 
water promoted the thawing of the ground ice along the banks of 
Logan Gulch and resulted in a considerable quantity of muck being 
deposited in the river bed. This muck caused shifting of the channel, 
a condition which renders the data only approximate. Readings 
were obtained from a gage about 400 feet above the gage at the pipe- 
line crossing after August 11. At this point channel conditions were 
much more favorable, so that discharges from this date to the end of 
the season are fairly accurate. 

The extreme low-water rating is very unsatisfactory^ because of the 
conditions mentioned, but it is thought that the discharge of 13 sec- 
ond-feet for July 28 is not far from the true mininmm. 



228 



SURFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



Discharge measurements of Inmxidiuk River below Logan Gulch in 1909. 
[Elevation, 130 feet.] 





Gage height 


Date. 


Gage height. 


Date. 


Upper 
gage. 


Lower 
gage. 


Dis- 
charge, 


Upper 
gage. 


Lower 
gage. 


Dis- 
charge. 


June 26 


Feet. 
1.51 
1.45 
1.30 
1.16 
1.11 


Feet. 
2.06 
1.98 
1.90 
1.61 
1.69 


Sec.-ft. 
93 
93 
63 
38 
34 




Feet. 
.94 
.93 
1.21 

01.23 


Feet. 
L66 
1.61 
2.03 


Sec.-ft. 
24 


June 27 


Aug. 8 


23 


July 12 


Aug. 10 


50 


July 19 


Aug. 24 


25 


July 23 













a The upper gage was reset Aug. 11 at the same section with a datum 0.32 foot lower. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Inmachuh River below Logan 

Gulch for 1909. 

[Drainage area, 145 square miles. Observers, employees of Fairhaven Water Co.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


, Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


uis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 






1.85 
1.90 
1.85 
1.90 
1.90 

1.90 
1.80 
1.70 
2.15 
2.00 

L90 
2.15 
1.95 
1.80 
1.80 

1.70 
1.70 
1.55 
1.59 
1.50 

1.60 
1.58 
1.60 
1.35 
L25 

1.22 
1.20 
1.10 
1.18 
L28 
1.38 


72 
74 
68 
70 
68 

66 
58 
50 

77 
65 

56 
70 
56 

47 
48 

42 
43 
34 
37 
32 

31 
34 
34 
22 
18 

16 
15 
13 
14 
15 
17 


1.45 
L38 
1.40 
1.40 
1.82 

1.68 
1.78 
1.61 
1.80 
2.00 

1.48 
1.20 
L30 
1.25 
1.20 

1.20 
1.15 
1.10 
1.10 
1.00 

1.10 
1.10 
1.30 
1.23 
L20 

1.10 
1.10 
1.20 
1.10 
1.15 
1.15 


18 
16 
16 
15 
34 

25 
32 
23 
35 
48 

44 
24 
30 
27 
24 

24 
22 
19 
19 
15 

19 
19 
30 
26 

24 

19 
19 
24 
19 
22 
22 


1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.15 

1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.20 
L20 

1.16 
1.15 
1.15 
1.20 
L20 

1.15 
1.15 
1.20 
1.15 
LIO 


22 


2 






22 


3 






22 


4 






22 


5 






22 


6 






22 


7 






22 


8 







22 


9 






24 


10 






24 


11 






22 


12 . 






22 


13 . 






22 


14 






24 


15 






24 


16 






22 


17. 






22 


18 






24 


19 







22 


20 






19 


21 








22 










23 










24 










25 










26 


2.06 
1.98 
1.90 
L90 

1.85 


93 
93 
82 
80 

74 






27 






28 






29 






30 






31 
















Mean 




84.4 
.582 

.11 





43.9 
.303 

.35 


::::: 


24.2 
.167 

.19 


::::: 


22.4 


Mean per square mile 




.154 


Run-off, depth in inches on 
drainage area 




.11 









KTJGRUK RIVER DRAIITAGE BASIN". 
MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 



229 



The following is a list of miscellaneous measurements made in 
the Inmachuk River drainage basin: 

Miscellaneoits measurements in Inmachuk River basin in 1908 and 1909. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to— 


Locality. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


Dis- 
charge 

per 
square 
mile. 


July 26,1908 

Aug. 15,1908 
July 19,1909 
Aug. 7,1909 
Aug. 26,1909 
Aug. 8,1909 

July 26,1908 

Aug. 15,1908 
Aug. 22,1908 
Aug. 21,1908 
Aug. 8,1909 
July 26,1908 

Do 


Inmachuk 
River. 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 


Kotzebue Sound., 
do 


Above Eureka 

Creek. 
do 


Feet. 
210 

210 
210 
210 
210 
140 

140 

140 

140 

60 

60 

450 

175 
175 
175 
175 
175 
140 
140 
140 
140 
140 


Sec-ft. 
8.5 

7.5 
10.9 
9.4 
8.3 
9.8 

19.0 

16.4 
14.3 

38 

6 56 
1.05 

2.3 

2.9 

3.5 

1.77 

2.0 

5.2 

4.1 

6.6 

3.1 

3.2 


Sq. mi. 
8.6 

8.6 
8.6 
8.6 
8.6 
46 

142 

142 
142 
177 
177 
16.0 

34 

it 

34 
34 
96 
96 
96 
96 
96 


Sec-ft. 
0.99 

.87 


do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do .... 


do 

do 

do 

Above Pinnell 
River. 

Below Pinnell 
River. 

do 

do 

Above Cue Creek.. 
do 


1.27 

1.09 

.97 

.21 

.13 

.12 
.10 


do 




Hamium Creek 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

PiriTiftll River. . 

do 

do 

do 

do 


Inmachuk River. . 
do 


Below Milroy 
Creek. 


.066 

.068 


Aug. 15,1908 
July 19,1909 
Aug. 8,1909 
Aug. 25, 1909 
July 26,1908 
Aug. 15,1908 
July 19,1909 


do 

do 


do 


.085 


do 


.10 


do 

do 


do 

do 


.052 
.059 


do 


do 


.054 


do 


do ... 


.043 


do 


do 


.069 


Aug. 7,1909 
Aug. 25,1909 


... do 


. .do 


.032 


do 


do 


.033 











a This includes about 25 second-feet from the Fairhaven ditch. 
b This includes about 42 second-feet from the Fairhaven ditch. 

KTJGRUK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Kugruk River rises in Imuruk Lake and flows in a northeasterly 
and northerly direction for about 60 miles, emptying into Kotzebue 
Sound near Deering. Imuruk Lake lies on top of the lava plateau 
that occupies a large area in the central part of Seward Peninsula, 
at an elevation, as near as can be determined from barometer read- 
ings, of 960 feet. It has an area of 31 square miles and a drainage 
basin of 102 square miles. Below the lake the river is relatively flat 
for 3 or 4 miles. It then breaks over an escarpment at the edge of 
the lava and flows through a canyon about 2 miles in length which 
has been cut in places 300 feet deep and 1,000 feet wide. The fall in 
the canyon amounts to nearly 250 feet to the mile. At its lower end 
the river is probably at about the level which it occupied before the 
extrusion of the lava flow, nearly 550 feet below the level of the lake. 
The canyon affords a favorable location for a plant to develop electric 
power, for water from the lake can be diverted through the upper end 



230 SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENIIirSTJLA. 

of the Fairhaven ditch or through a waterway parallel with it for 
about 4| miles and then through a pipe line to the lower end of the 
canyon, where a pressure of about 500 feet can be obtained. 

The principal tributaries of Kugruk River are Lava Creek from the 
south, in the canyon; Holtz, Mina, Montana, Reindeer, and Chicago 
Creeks from the east; and Ruby, Gold Bug, and Wade creeks, the 
last locally known as Burnt" River, from the west. Chicago and 
Reindeer creeks are probably the most important of these tributaries, 
having near their mouths coal mines, which have been worked 
extensively. Gold has been found in paying quantities on the 
river only at Discovery claim, just above the mouth of Chicago 
Creek. Some mining has been done on Spruce, Mina, and Chicago 
creeks, but the total production is small. 

There is a large body of auriferous ground in the river valley between 
Mina and Chicago creeks which, if the gold is present in fair quantity 
and uniformly distributed, may prove profitable for dredging, as 
there is a large amount of cheap fuel available at the coal mines 
near by. 

Spruce timber is found in the northern part of the Kugruk River 
drainage basin, especially along Holtz Creek and some of its tribu- 
taries, but it is too far from the mining areas to be of much value. 

The upper section of the Fairhaven ditch lies within the Kugruk 
River drainage basin. Data on the flow of the ditch are presented 
on pages 235-239. 

The following gaging stations have been maintained in this basin: 

Kugruk River below Fairhaven ditch intake, 1909. 
Kugruk River above Reindeer Creek, 1909. 
Chicago Creek at coal mine, 1908. 

IMURUK LAKE. 

Imuruk Lake, which has an area of 31 square miles and a drainage 
basin of 102 square miles, is the largest body of fresh water in 
Seward Peninsula. It lies on top of a. lava plateau at an elevation of 
960 feet. The drainage basin is relatively flat, as the maximum 
elevation is only about 1,600 feet. A low gap in the divide between 
the lake and the head of Right Fork of Goodhope River rises only a 
few feet above the lake. The Fairhaven ditch takes practically all 
its water from the lake, and the amount of water available is therefore 
of considerable interest. The inflow can be computed for two periods 
of approximately 12 months each, August 16, 1906, to August 13, 
1907, and October 1, 1907, to September 25, 1908. Durmg the first 
period the water was shut off entirely ^t the outlet and the water 
level rose 2.17 feet. As there was more water in the lake than was 
needed, the gates were then opened and a large flow allowed to escape 
until about October 1, when the gates were again closed. During 



KUGlSUK EiVEK DKAIlSrAGE BASIN. 



231 



the second period the water surface rose 1.53 feet. A considerable 
loss of water occurred during part of June on account of the failure 
of one of the gates, and water was running in the Fairhaven ditch 
from July 1 to September 25. The total outflow is estimated as 
follows : 

June, 10 days, 75 second-feet. 

July 1-20, 12.5 second-feet. 

July 21 to September 25, 30 second-feet. 

From these data the total run-off of the drainage area for these 
periods has been computed. 

Water supply available from Imuruk Lake, 1906-1908, 
[Elevation, 960 feet; drainage area, 102 square miles.] 



Aug. 16, 

1906, to 

Aug. 13, 

1907. 



Oct. 1, 

1907, to 

Sept. 25, 

1908. 



Rise of lake surface feet. 

Equivalent water supply acre-feet. 

Outflow do... 

Total water supply do. . . 

Mean annual discharge second-feet. 

Discharge for 100-day season do. . . 

Run-off from drainage area inches . 



2.17 

43,100 



43,100 

60 

217 

7.9 



1.53 
30,400 

6,400 

36,800 

51 



Note. — These values differ somewhat from those previously published because the area of both the 
lake and the drainage basin have been revised in accordance with more accurate measurements. 

A gage was established at the outlet of the lake July 19, 1909, and 
readings were obtained for about two months in connection with the 
record of outflow in the ditch and river. 

These records show a fall of 0.85 foot in the lake surface during 64 
days. The outflow during the period was 6,130 acre-feet, enough 
to have raised the lake 0.31 foot. This leaves a depth of 0.54 foot 
(6.5 inches) to be accounted for by evaporation and by leakage 
through the lava. 



Daily gage height, in feet, of Imuruk Lake near outlet for 1909. 



Day. 


luly. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Day. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Day. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1 




3.05 

3.1 

3.2 

3.05 

3.1 

2.9 
2.9 
2.9 
2.7 
2.9 


2.6 
2.6 
2.4 
2.4 
2.4 

2.4 
2.4 
2.4 
2.4 
2.4 


11 




2.8 
2.8 
2.7 
2.7 
2.8 

2.8 
2.8 
2.8 
2.8 
2.8 


2.3 
2.3 
2.3 
2.3 
2.3 

2.5 
2.3 
2.3 
2.3 
2.3 


21 


3.1 

3.25 

3.1 

3.1 

3.2 

3.4 

3.1 

3.2 

3.05 

3.2 

3.1 


2.7 
2.8 
2.6 
2.6 
2.6 

2.6 
2.6 
2.6 

2.6 
2.6 
2.6 




2 




12 




22 




3 




13 




23 




4 




14 




24 




5 




15 




25 




6 




16 




26 




7 




17 .... 




27 




8 




18 




28 




9 




19 


3.15 
3.2 


29 




10 




20 


30 










31 











Note.— The gage heights fluctuated somewhat on account of changes in the direction and velocity of the 
Wind. 



232 



SUBFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



KUGRUK RIVER BELOW FAIRHAVEN DITCH INTAKE. 

A station was established about 50 feet below the diversion dam 
of the Fairhaven ditch July 14, 1909, for the purpose of determining 
the leakage under the dam and the waste from overflow of flash- 
boards. On account of the roughness of the stream bed an accurate 
rating for the small amount of water lost in this way was not possible, 
but the rating obtained is suflSciently accurate to be used for deter- 
mining the total run-off from the lake during the season. 

Discharge measurements of Kugruk River below Fairhaven ditch intake in 1909. 

[Elevation, 960 feet.] 



Date. 



Dis- 
charge. 



July 14. 
Do... 
Do... 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second feet, of Kugruk River below Fairhaven 

ditch intake for 1909. 

[Observer, Max Sinkspiel.] 






July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


S 
O 


1 


4i 

.a 

1 


i 

03 
1 

s 


t 
1 


1 


1 


1 




1 

s 


1 


5 


1 






0.60 
.65 
.65 
.70 
.70 

.70 
.70 
.70 
,42 
.42 

.42 
.42 
.42 
.42 
.42 


3.7 
4.7 
4.7 
5.7 
5.7 

5.7 
5.7 
5.7 
1.0 
1.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 


0.42 
.42 
.42 
.42 
.45 

.45 

.42 
.42 
.42 
.42 

.42 
.42 
.42 
.42 
.42 


1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.4 

1.4 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 


16 


0.42 

■1 

.50 
.50 
.42 
.42 
.45 

.45 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.60 
.60 


1.0 
1.0 
1.4 
1.4 
1.4 

2.0 
2.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.4 

1.4 
2.0 
2.0 
2.0 
3.7 
3.7 


0.42 
.42 
.42 
.42 
.42 

.42 
.42 
.45 
.45 
.45 

.48 
.45 
.45 
.45 
.45 
.45 


1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 

1.0 
1.0 
1.4 
1.4 
1.4 

1.8 
1.4 
1.4 
1.4 
1.4 
1.4 


0.42 
.42 
.42 
.42 
.42 


1.0 


2 






17 


1.0 


3 






18 


1.0 


4 






19 . . 


1 


5 






20 


1.0 


6 . 






21 




7 






22 






8.-.. 






23 






9 






24 






10 






25 






11 






26 






12 






27 






13 






28 






14 


0.42 
.42 


1.0 
1.0 


29 






15 


30 








31 








Mean.. 








1.69 


2.21 


1.04 



KUGRUK RIVER ABOVE REINDEER CREEK. 

This station was established June 28, 1909, at the upper coal mine, 
about half a mile above the mouth of Reindeer Creek, to obtain data 
in regard to range of stage and run-off during the summer months. 
The discharge comes almost entirely from the area below the outlet 
of Imuruk Lake, except for short periods when water was wasted 
from the dam at the lake outlet or from the Fairhaven ditch between 
the intake and camp 2 upper section. The channel shifted slightly 
during August, but suflacient measurements were obtained to render 
the results good. 



KUGRUK KIVEE DEAINAGE BASIN". 



23S 



A minimum normal flow of 29 second-feet occurred during the 
later part of August and in September before the freeze-up. It is 
estimated that 18 to 19 second-feet of this amount was supplied from 
the springs in the canyon. Kecords at this point are directly com- 
parable with the measurements made in 1908 above Chicago Creek, 
as the discharge of Reindeer Creek is negligible. 

. Discharge measurements of Kugruh River above Reindeer Creeh in 1909. 



Date. 



Gage 


Dis- 


height. 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec-ft. 


1.21 


182 


.91 


117 


.56 


46 


.52 


37 



Date. 




Dis- 
charge. 



Jiiiie28 
July 10. 
July 24. 
Aug. 1. 



Aug. 11 
Aug, 23 



Sec.-ft. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Kugruh River above Reindeer 

Creeh for 1909. 

[Drainage area, 454 square miles.* Observer, George Wallin.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


1.10 
.90 
.90 
.90 
.90 

.80 
.90 
.90 
.80 
.91 

.90 
.90 
.90 
.80 
.80 

• .80 
.80 
.70 
.70 
.60 

.60 
.50 
.53 
.56 
.70 

.60 
.60 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 


158 
114 
114 
114 
114 

93 
114 
114 

93 
116 

114 
114 
114 
93 
93 

93 
93 
73 
73 
53 

53 
34 
40 
45 
73 

53 
53 
34 
34 
34 
34 


0.52 
.50 
.60 
.60 
.60 

.60 
.60 
.50 
.50 
.60 

.52 
.52 
.50 
.50 
.50 

.50 
.50 
.70 
.80 
.80 

.70 
.65 
.56 
.50 
.50 

.50 
.40 
.40 
.40 
.50 
.50 


38 
34 
53 
56 
59 

62 
65 
46 
46 
65 

50 
50 
46 
46 
46 

46 

46 
85 
105 
105 

85 
75 
57 
46 
46 

46 
29 
29 
29 
46 
46 


0.50 
.50 
.50 
.60 
.50 

.40 
.40 
.40 
.40 
.40 

.40 
.40 
.40 
.40 
.50 

.50 
.40 
.40 
.40 
.40 

.40 
.40 
.40 
.40 
.40 

.32 
.32 
.35 
.30 


46 


2 


46 


3 


46 


4 


65 


5 


46 


6. 


29 


7 


29 


8. . . 


29 


9 


29 


10 .. 


29 


11 


29 


12 


29 


13 


29 


14 


29 


15. . 


46 


16 


46 


17 


29 


18 


29 


19 


29 


20 


29 


21 


29 


22 


29 


23 


29 


24 


29 


25 


29 


26 


19 


27 


19 


28 


23 


29 


17 


30 


16 


31 










Mean 




82.1 

5.1 

77.0 

.170 

.20 


::.::::: 


54.3 
14.5 
39.8 
.088 
.10 




31 9 


Flow from Imuruk Lake & 


' 


6 


Mean natural flow of drainage area below Imiiruk Lake. 

Mean per square mile 

Run-off, depth in inches on drainage area 





25.9 

.057 

06 









«» This area does not include that of Imuruk Lake. 

b The flow from Imuruk Lake finding its way into the river is composed of two parts. The amoimt 
spilled by the Fairhaven ditch between the intake and camp 2, upper section, and the amount seeping 
under and spilling over the flashboards. The former is estimated by comparing the ditch records at the 
two points and the latter is represented by the records of the river below the intake. 

Note.— -The mean discharge for the period June 28-30 was 173 second-^eet. 



234 



SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA, 



CHICAGO CREEK AT COAL MINE. 

A Cippoletti weir with a 1-foot crest was installed in Chicago Creek 
just above the coal mine and about a mile above the mouth, on 
August 24, 1908, to determine the low-water flow. Kecords )vere 
desired of the amount of water available for use in condensers of the 
proposed steam-power plant at the coal miae which was under con- 
sideration at that time. Observations were continued until the weir 
was washed out by high water on September 15. The highest dis- 
charges recorded are only approximate, as they were greater than the 
weir was adapted to measure, but the low-water record is fairly good. 

Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Chicago Creek at coal mine for 

1908. 

[Drainage area, 32 square miles. Observer, C. A. Melbern.] 





August. 


September. 


Day. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 






0.22 
.20 
.33 
.60 
.60 

.70 
.75 
.60 
.42 
.38 

.35 
.32 
.30 
.30 


0.35 

.30 

.64 

1.56 

1.56 

1.97 

2.19 

1.56 

.92 

.79 

.70 
.61 
.65 
.55 


19 










2 






20 










3 






21 










4 








5 






22 

















23 










6 


24 


0.12 
.12 

.11 
.13 
.11 
.10 
.10 
.09 


0.14 
.14 

.12 
.16 
.12 
.11 
.11 
.09 






7 






25 






8 






26 






9 








10 






27 












28 






11 


29 






12 






30 






13 






31 






14 






Mean 






15 ... 








.12 
.0037 

.001 


1.02 
.032 

.02 




16 










Mean per square 
mile 






17 








" 


Run-off, depth 
in inches on 
drainage area.. 






18 


































MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 



The following is a list of miscellaneous measurements made in the 
Kugruk River drainage basin; 



KUGRUK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 235 

Miscellaneous measurements Hn Kugmk River basin in 1908 and 1909. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to— 


Locality. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


Dis- 
charge 

per 
square 
mile. 


Aug. 17,1908 

July 15,1909 
Aug. 4, 1909 


Kugruk River 

do 

do 

do 

do 


Kotzebue Sound. 

do 

do 


At mouth of 
canyon, 
do 


Feet. 
470 

470 
470 


Sec. ft. 
31 

36 

a 34 

33 

31 
1.6 

.93 

26 

12 
3.1 
1.31 
1.44 
.72 


Sq. mi. 
152 

152 
152 
57S 

578 
177 

177 
177 
177 
177 
177 
177 
177 


Sec.-ft. 


do 




July 28,1908 

Aug. 14,1908 
July 28,1908 

Aug. 14,1908 
June 27,1909 
July 11,1909 
July 23.1909 
Aug. 2, 1909 


do . 


Above mouth of 

Chicago Creek. 

.. . do 


057 


do 


.054 


Wade Cre 
(Burnt Rive 

.....do 

do 

do 

do 

do........ 

do 

do 


e k Kugruk River . . 
*... do .. 






.009 


do 




005 


do..... 

do . . . 


do 

do 




.15 
.068 


do 

do . 


do 

do 





.018 
.007 


Aug. 11,1909 
Aug 24.1909 


do 

do . ... 


do 

do 




.008 
.004 













o Includes 14 second-feet from Fairhaven ditch and Lake Imuruk. 

FAIRHAVEN DITCH SYSTEM. 
DESCRIPTION. 

The Fairhaven ditch is located within two drainage basins, the 
upper section in that of Kugruk River and the lower section in that 
of Inmachuk River, and is therefore described separately. The ditch 
takes its water from Imuruk Lake, which lies at an elevation of 
about 960 feet above sea level. A dam 500 feet long and 5 feet high 
has been built to form a storage reservoir, and this will hold the 
total inflow at the lake for two years if necessary. The ditch is in 
three sections. The upper section, 17 miles long, lies on top of the 
lava and extends from the lake around the head of Wade Creek to 
the divide between Wade Creek and Finn ell River, where the water 
is dropped into a channel emptying into a sink hole in the lava, 
apparently connected by an underground passage with Wade Creek. 
The water is diverted from Wade Creek into Pinnell River by the 
middle section of the ditch, which is about half a mile long. The 
distance between the upper and lower ditches is about 6| miles, and 
the drop is estimated at 140 feet. The lower section of the ditch 
extends from the intake on Pinnell River along the right side of the 
valley to a point a few hundred feet below Logan Gulch, a small 
tributary of the Inmachuk above Arizona Creek, and has a length of 
about 19 miles, making the total length of the ditch 36J miles. 

The ditch has a grade of 4.2 feet to the mile and was built 11 feet 
wide on the bottom. The grade line was located 1 foot below the 
surface of the ground on the lower side and a 4-foot lower bank was 
provided. The removal of 1 or 2 feet of the upper moss and soil 
put the bottom of the ditch into a mixture of ground ice and muck, 
much of which was almost clear ice. This material thawed when 



236 SUKFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 

the water was turned in, and as a result a large part of the bottom 
of the ditch has settled at least 2 feet and the ditch has widened in 
many places to 15 or 20 feet or more. As the upper bank thawed, 
material was thrown against the lower bank to protect it and to keep 
the water from getting under it. Practically all the upper ditch and 
at least three-fourths of the lower ditch is built in frozen ground of 
this character. These sections have been difficult and expensive 
to maintain and caused considerable interruption in the delivery of 
water during 1909 and 1910. Where the lower ditch is built around 
the steep gulches that carry the eastern tributaries of the Pinnell 
the northerly slopes of the gulches are covered with muck, but the 
southerly slopes are made up of a more solid clay and of decomposed 
mica schist. Along the upper ditch lava bowlders are present in 
the muck from the surface to bedrock, and at a few places the 
material encountered was composed of angular fragments of lava 
with only a little soil between them. Above and below Snow Gulch, 
the lowest tributary of Pinnell River which the ditch crosses, are 
short pieces of rockwork. The rock is much shattered and could 
have been loosened with picks if it had not been frozen. Much 
difficulty was experienced in making the rockwork water tight on 
account of the lack of good sod, as the surface covering is commonly 
decayed moss or peat containing much fibrous matter and little 
earthly material, and will float even though saturated with water, 
so that it is necessary to weight it down with rocks when it is used 
on the bottom of the ditch. 

The ditch was built under contract, and construction was begun 
early in 1906. The upper section and more than half of the lower 
section had been built by October 12, when work had to be sus- 
pended for the year. The construction was completed in July, 1907, 
and water was run through the ditch for a short time in September 
of the same year. The pressure pipe leading from the penstock 
below Logan Gulch to the mine has a total length of 10,600 feet and 
gives a head of 530 feet on bedrock at the Utica group of claims. 
This head was greater than was found practicable for use, and a 
second penstock was built to reduce it to 330 feet. The following 
gaging stations were maintained during 1909: 

Upper section: Fairhaven ditch at intake; Fairhaven ditch at Camp 2. 
Lower section: Fairhaven ditch at Snow Gulch. 

FAIRHAVEN DITCH AT INTAKE OF UPPER SECTION. 

A gage was established on Fairhaven ditch about 100 feet below 
the diversion dam on Kugruk River on July 1.4, 1909, and records 
were kept of the amount of water diverted during the remainder of 
the season. Measuring conditions were good and the channel per- 
manent. One reading a day was obtained. The maximum diversion 
was 61.8 second-feet, near the end of the season. 



KUGRUK KIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 237 

Discharge measurements of Fairhaven ditch at intake of upper section in 1908 and 1909 . 



Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


July 23.. 


1908. 


Feet. 


Sec-ft. 
12.2 
27.2 

33 


July 15.. 


1909. 


Feet. 
1.02 
.62 
1.29 


Sec-ft. 
40 


Aug. 18 




July 15 


23 




1909. 


0.83 


Aug. 4 


55 


July 14 . 











Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in secondfeet, of Fairhaven ditch at intake of 

upper section for 1909. 

[Observer, Max Sinkspiel.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


s 

1 




1 


1 
ft 


4^ 

-a 
1 

1 


1 

ft 


1 
1 


as 

5 


CiO 

1 


S 

1 


bX} 
1 


i 

.d 
.1 
ft 


1 






1.00 
1.12 
1.21 
1.29 
1.25 


40.0 
46.0 
50.6 
54.9 
52.8 

52.8 
50.6 
52.8 
40.0 
61.8 

52.8 
48.6 
57.0 
57.0 
44.0 


1.21 
1.12 
1.21 
1.21 
1.21 

1.21 
1.21 
1.21 
1.21 
1.21 

1.17 
1.17 
1.29 
1.21 
1.42 


50.6 
46.0 
50.6 
50.6 
52.6 

50.6 
50.6 
50.6 
50.6 
50.6 

48.6 
48.6 
54.9 
50.6 
61.8 


16 


0.92 
.92 
1.00 
1.08 
1.12 

1.12 
1.12 

1.08 
.17 
.17 


36.1 
36.1 
40.0 
44.0 
46.0 

46.0 
46.0 
44.0 
9.7 
9.7 

.0 
13.3 
30.1 
40.0 
30.1 
38.0 


1.08 
1.12 
1.25 
1.25 
1.17 

1.08 
1.08 
1.21 
1.21 
1.21 

1.17 
1.17 
1.17 
1.21 
1.21 
1.21 


44.0 
46.0 
52.8 
52.8 
48.6 

44.0 
44.0 
50.6 
50.6 
50.6 

48.6 
48.6 
48.6 
50.6 
50.6 
50.6 


1.33 
1.21 
1.21 
1.29 
1.29 


57.0 


2 






17 


50.6 


3 






18 


50.6 


4 






19 


54.9 


5 






20 


54 9 


6 ... 






1.25 
1.21 
1.25 
1.00 
1.42 

1.25 
1.17 
1.33 
1.33 
1.08 


21 .. 




7 






22 






8 ... 






23 






9 






24 






10 






25 






11 






26 






12 ... . 






27 . 


.33 
.79 
1.00 
.79 
.96 






13 






28 




* 


14 


0.83 
.75 


31.9 
28.3 


29 






15 


30 








31 








Mean.. 










31.6 




49.8 




51.7 



FAIRHAVEN DITCH AT CAMP 2. UPPER SECTION. 

This station was established July 13, 1909, opposite Camp 2, about 
4J miles below the intake. Measuring conditions were good, but 
the bottom of the ditch, which was composed of mud, shifted con- 
siderably. Daily discharges for July and August were obtained by 
the indirect method for shifting channels. As no measurements 
were made in September, the gage heights observed during that 
month can not be interpreted in terms of discharge. The maximum 
discharge diverted pas-t the station during the period recorded was 
46.5 second-feet near the end of August. 

Discharge measurements of Fairhaven ditch at Camp 2, upper section, in 1908 and 1909. 



Date. 


hSS. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


July 24.. 


1908. 


Feet. 


30 


July 15.. 


1909. 


Feet. 
0.93 
1.02 
.98 


Sec-ft. 
37 
46 




1909. 


0.78 


Aug. 4 




Aug. 4 


43 


July 13.. 











238 



SURFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Fairhaven ditch at Camp i, 

upper section, for 1909. 

[Observer, Max Sinkspiel.] 





July. 


August. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge, 


1 






1.01 
1.03 
1.05 
1.03 
1.02 

1.04 
1.04 
1.04 
.92 
1.10 

1.02 
1.04 
.94 
1.04 
1.04 


43.0 
46.2 
a 42. 3 
46.2 
45.6 

46.7 

46.7 

46.7 

a 33. 8 

a 35. 2 

45.6 

46.7 

41.5 

O38.0 

a 29. 2 


16 


0.85 
.85 
.87 
.97 

1.03 

1.05 

1.05 

.85 

.14 


33.2 
33.2 
34.2 
39.2 
42.3 

43.3 

43.3 

24.8 

7.2 





11.8 
26.9 
38.0 
35.0 
39.0 


"" ■6.*92' 
.50 

.62 

.67 
.77 
.92 
.96 
.96 

.98 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 

.96 





2 






17 





3 






18 


32.6 


4 






19 


21.8 


5 






20 


27,3 


6 .... 






21 


29.7 


7 






22 


O30.3 


8 






23 


42.3 


9 






24 


037.0 


10 






25 


44.4 


11 






26 




45.5 


12 






27 


.30 
.68 
.91 
.85 
.93 


a 41. 6 


13 


0.80 
.79 

.77 


30.8 

30.3 

a 23. 3 


28 


ffl41.6 


14 


29 


46.5 


15 


30 


46.5 




31 


a 42, 5 




Mean 








28.2 




37,5 











a The flow was not continuous throughout the day. Water was turned out above Camp 2 for making 
repairs in the ditch. 

FAIRHAVEN DITCH AT SNOW GULCH. 

A gage was established and records begun by Robert Horn on June 
14, 1909, at Snow Gulch, near the lowest camp on the lower section 
of the ditch. The gage was located near the waste gate just below 
the gulch. Records at this point show practically the amount of 
water delivered by the ditch at the penstock about 4 miles below. 
The maximum quantity delivered in 1909 was 45,7 second-feet near 
the end of the season. 

Discharge measurements of Fairhaven ditch at Snow Gulch, in 1908 and 1909. 



Date. 



July 25. 
Aug. 20. 



1908. 



June 27. 



1909. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



0,74 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec. -ft. 
12.0 
022.7 



19,3 



July 12. 
July 19. 
Aug.2.. 
Aug. 5.. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.18 
1.36 
1,51 
1.57 



Dis- 
charge, 



Sec.-ft. 
29.3 
35.5 
40.4 
42.6 



a The discharge was less than normal on account of water being turned out for a few hours on Aug. 18, 1908L 



KUGKUK KIVEK DKAINAGE BASIN. 



239 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Fairhaven ditch at Snow Gulch, 

for 1909. 

[Observer, Robert Horn.] 





June. 


July. 


August, 


September. 


Day. 


height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


heigS. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 






1.02 
1.01 
.97 
1.07 
1.02 

1.06 
1.10 
1.12 


25.1 
24.9 
23.9 
26.4 
25.1 

26.2 
27.2 
27.8 
5.0 
27.8 

27.2 
29.2 
29.2 
29.7 
30.3 

26.7 
30.3 
30.9 
34.5 
37.2 

39.3 
39.0 
40.0 
17.2 
13.7 

10.0 
3.0 


26.7 
34.8 
36.5 


1.44 
1.50 
1.44 
1.40 
1.54 

1.54 
1.56 
1.55 
1.57 
1.41 

1.39 
1.55 
1.56 
1.53 
1.25 

.94 
.46 
.29 
.75 


37.9 
40.0 
37.9 
36.5 
41.5 

41.5 
42.3 
41.9 
42.7 
36.8 

36.2 
41.9 
42.3 
41.1 
31.6 

23.2 
14.4 
11.6 
19.5 


25.1 
27.8 
32.2 
40.8 
41.5 

40.0 
41.5 
37.2 
37.2 
41.5 
42.3 


1.38 
1.42 
1.27 
1.29 
1.50 

1.56 
1.58 
1.60 
1.60 
1.48 

1.27 
1.62 
1.58 
1.65 
1.56 

1.31 
1.46 
1.58 
1.56 
1.54 

1.58 


35.8 


2 






37.2 


3 . . 






32.2 


4 






32.8 


5 






40.0 


6 






42.3 


7 






43.0 


8 






43.8 


9 






43.8 


10 






1.12 

1.10 
1.17 
1.17 
1.19 
1.21 

1.08 
1.21 
1.23 
1.34 
1.42 

1.48 

1.47 

1.50 

.62 

.42 


39.3 


11 






32.2 


12 






44.6 


13 






43.0 


14 .... 


0.92 


22.8 


22.8 
18.8 
17.7 
18.4 
21.0 

18.8 
16.4 
15.0 
13.1 
12.0 

14.5 
18.2 
20.2 
21.4 
23.7 


45.7 


15 


42.3 


16 . . 


.92 
.71 
.65 
.69 
.83 

.71 
.58 
.50 
.38 
.31 

.47 
.68 
.79 
.85 
.96 


33.4 


17 


38.6 


18 


43.0 


19 


42.3 


20 


41.5 


21 


1.02 
1.12 
1.27 
1.52 
1.54 

1.50 
1.54 
1.42 
1.42 
1.54 
1.56 


43.0 


22 




23 






24 






25 






26 






27 








28 








29 


i.os 

1.35 
1.40 






30 






31 
















Mean 




17.3 




26.0 




34.4 




40.0 















MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 

Measurements were made along the ditch in 1908 to determine the 
discharge and seepage losses. (See p. 268.) In 1909 they were made 
at two points on the lower ditch which were intended for regular sta- 
tions, but which could not be rated on account of shifting channel 
conditions and insufficient measurements. Miscellaneous measure- 
ments made in 1909 are given in the following table: 



Miscellaneous measurements of Fairhaven ditch in 1909. 



Date. 


PotQt of measurement. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Date. 


Point of measurement. 


Dis- 
charge. 


July 13 


Camp 1, lower section 

do.. 


Sec.-ft. 
29 
40 
14.5 


July 12 


Above penstock 


Sec.-ft. 
30 


Aug. 3 


Aug 6 


Hn 


41 


June 26 


Above penstock 




17 













240 SUEFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 

KIWALIK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 
DESCRIPTION. 

Kiwalik River, the largest river on the north side of Seward Penin- 
sula, rises in a low ridge which separates the Kiwalik drainage basin 
from that of the Koyuk, flows northward for nearly 70 miles, and 
empties into Spafarief Bay, a southeasterly projection of Kotzebue 
Sound. The river traverses a flat lowland area several miles in 
width for the lower 30 miles of its course, except for a few miles 
above Candle, where the valley narrows to less than half a mile. 
Below Candle the river widens again into a lagoon, covering a large 
area of mud flats, which are exposed at low tide. 

The tributaries from the west drain rather narrow basins, roughly 
parallel, and separated by long, low ridges. The principal streams 
from this side are Canoe Creek, Gold Kun, and Glacier, Dome, 
Bonanza, Eldorado, Candle, and Minnehaha creeks. Glacier Creek 
is the largest of these in point of water supply. It risies on the 
easterly slope of Monument Mountain, the highest point in the Fair- 
haven district, and flows into the Kiwalik about 25 miles from its 
mouth. Limestone springs furnish practically all the low- water 
discharge, and the water from the melting ^'glacier" which is formed 
below them during the winter materially increases the flow until late 
in July each year. 

Gold Run enters the Kiwalik about 2 miles above the mouth of 
Glacier Creek and also derives a part of its discharge from springs, 
which, however, do n(yt give so well sustained a flow as those on 
Glacier Creek. During the summer of 1909 the combined low- water 
flow of these two streams was only about 2.5 second-feet. The other 
streams on this side have an exceedingly small run-off during periods 
of low water. Candle Creek, which has a drainage area of 60 square 
miles at the mouth, frequently reaches a stage of zero flow. 

The largest tributaries from the east are Quartz and Hunter creeks, 
which rise in a mountainous mass separating the basin of Kiwalik River 
from that of Buckland River. Quartz Creek, which joins the main 
stream at a point about 6 miles above the mouth of Glacier Creek, 
has a larger drainage area than any other stream flowing into Kiwalik 
River. Its basin is in general hiUy and even rough and mountainous 
at its eastern and southern borders. The basin has only a thin sur- 
face covering of moss, and as the slopes are steep the water derived 
from rains runs off rather rapidly. This stream flows over a bed of 
loose gravel which probably thaws to a considerable depth during 
the summer, so that there may be an appreciable underflow. 

Hunter Creek drains an area north of Quartz Creek, opposite the 
headwaters of Bear Creek, a tributary of Buckland River, and flows 
through a rather narrow, tortuous valley into Kiwalik River, about 



KIWALIK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 241 

8 miles below the mouth of Quartz Creek. The drainage basin resem- 
bles that of Quartz Creek in a general way, but is not quite so high 
and mountainous. Most of the discharge comes from the small 
tributaries from the south which rise in the high ridge adjoining the 
Quartz Creek drainage basin. Hunter Creek yields a smaller but 
somewhat more uniform flow than Quartz Creek, probably because 
its headwaters are lower and do not receive so many showers during 
the summer. 

Lava Creek is a small tributary from the east draining a flat lava 
area north of Hunter Creek. Its run-off is small except during the 
high-water period in the spring and immediately following a rain. 

A belt of spruce timber and willow brush f oUows the river from a 
point near its head to the mouth of Eldorado Creek and extends up 
Quartz Creek to the forks and along the south side of Gold Run. 
Along the river below Eldorado Creek and in the vaUey of Hunter 
Creek the spruce is lacking, but willow is abundant and of heavy 
growth. 

Owing to the very low grade of the river bed, which probably does 
not average more than 5 feet to the mile except at the headwaters, it 
is impossible to divert water from the river for hydraulicking. A 
ditch was built during 1907 by the Candle- Alaska Hydraulic Gold 
Mining Co. to gather the water from Glacier and Dome creeks and 
carry it to a point near Candle for use in mining the gold-bej^ring 
gravels of Candle Creek. During the summers of 1908 and 1909, 
from the later part of July to the end of the season, the water supply 
from Glacier and Dome creeks was insufiicient for hydraulicking 
except on a very small scale. 

A second ditch line has been surveyed from Quartz and Hunter 
creeks to Candle Creek. It is proposed to divert the water through 
65 miles of ditch and 14,000 feet of pipe line, and to deliver it 303 feet 
above the mouth of Candle Creek. If this ditch is built it will have 
intakes on the forks of Quartz Creek about 2 miles above their junc- 
tion and will extend along the left side of the valley for about 7 miles. 
It will then cross Quartz Creek in a siphon and continue around the 
ridge between Quartz and Hunter creeks to a point on the left bank 
of Hunter Creek, where it will be joined by a lateral diverting the water 
from Hunter Creek. Another siphon will conduct the water to the 
rght bank of Hunter Creek, whence it will be carried along the east 
side of the Kiwalik Valley by ditch to a point about 3 miles above 
Candle. Here the water will be siphoned across the river and carried 
by ditch around to the left bank of Candle Creek. 

Placer-mining operations have been conducted on Candle Creek 
since 1901 and have yielded a large percentage of the total production 
of the Fairhaven precinct. The creek is about 18 miles long and has 
63851°— wsp 314— 13 16 



242 



SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 



been mined for the greater part of its length. The principal producing 
ground up to 1910 lies between Patterson and Jump creeks and 
extends into the third tier of benches on the left side of the valley. 
Gold has also been found in benches on the right side near the m-^uth 
of the creek. Operations on Candle Creek have generally been handi- 
capped and often stopped altogether by lack of water. Mining 
operations have also been conducted in a small way on Glacier and 
Gold Run creeks. 

Measurements were made and records kept where observers could 
be found during 1908 and 1909 for the purpose of determining the 
amount of water available for the two ditch systems described above. 

Stations were maintained as follows: 

Kiwalik River below Candle Creek, 1909. 
Quartz Creek below the forks, 1909. 
Glacier Creek at intake, 1908-9. 
Dome Creek at siphon crossing, July, 1909. 
Hunter Creek at proposed intake, 1908-9. 



KIWALIK RIVER BELOW CANDLE CREEK. 

A gage was set in the river at the end of the main street in the town 
of Candle, about 300 3^ards below the mouth of Candle Creek, June 29, 
1909. Records were obtained from this date to the freeze-up. 

Ground sluicing on John Bull Hill, just above Candle, during the 
early part of the season caused a large amount of muck to be deposited 
in the river bed, a condition which, in conjunction with the slight 
grade of the river, resulted in so considerable a shift in the channel that 
it was necessary to employ the indirect method of deriving the dis- 
charge from the gage heights recorded. Difficulty was also experi- 
enced in getting correct gage readings on account of the tide backing 
up into the river at this point. Owing to these unfavorable con- 
ditions the results for part of the summer are only approximate, but 
the data are valuable as furnishing an index of the run-off in this 
drainage basin. A minimum normal flow of 36 second-feet for the 
season is recorded for August 3. The low- water flow during the 
latter part of September was caused by the water freezing at the 
heads of the upper tributaries. 

Discharge measurements of Kiwalik River below Candle Creek in 1908 and 1909. 

(Elevation, 2 feet.] 



Date. 



July 29. 
Aug. 1.. 
Aug. 13. 
Aug. 25. 
Sept. 9. 



1908. 



June2{ 
July 6. 



Gage 

height. 



Feet. 



1.67 
1.56 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec-feet. 
33 
43 

137 
70 

]26 



182 
133 



Date. 



1909 

July7 

Julys 

July 25 

July 30 

Aug. 14 

Aug. 15 

Aug. 18 

Aug. 23. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.99 
2.02 
1.23 
1.22 
1.87 
1.72 
1.40 
1.27 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec-feet. 
280 
290 
52 
51 
209 
167 
86 
57 



KIWALIK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



243 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Kiwalik River below Candle 

Creeh for 1909. 

[Drainage area, 800 square miles. Observer, W J.Young.] 





July 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 




1 


be 

1 


1 
ft 


t 
1 


1 


i 


6 

1 

5 


i 

1 


1 

s 


bo 
1 


e3 


1 


1.85 
1.90 
1.80 
1.78 
1.60 

1.55 
2.04 
1.98 
1.80 
1.71 

1.90 
1.86 
1.75 

L70 

1.55 
1.53 
1.48 
1.64 
1.49 


239 
254 
217 
207 
147 

130 
298 
275 
208 
175 

238 
225 

188 
169 
172 

126 
121 
109 
123 
110 


1.11 

1.12 
1.13 

1.19 
1.20 
1.30 
1.39 
1.22 

2.28 
2.40 
2.08 
1.87 
1.72 

1.62 
1.52 
1.41 
1.38 
1.37 


41 
39 
36 
38 
39 

47 
48 
63 
80 
51 

.362 
409 
286 
212 
165 

137 
110 
84 

78 
76 


1.19 
1.19 
1.18 
1.19 
1.19 

1.23 
1.24 
1.19 
1.18 
1.18 

1.18 
1.26 

'i.'.32' 
1.21 

1.19 
1.23 
1.22 
1.22 
1.21 


47 
47 
45 
47 
47 

52 
54 

47 
45 
45 

45 
57 
62 
67 
50 

47 
52 
51 
51 


21 


1..30 
1.31 


68 
67 
62 
56 
51 

52 
54 
52 
52 
51 
43 


1.30 
1..31 
1.27 
1.21 
1.17 

1.18 
1.20 
1.28 
1.23 
1.22 
1.23 


63 
65 

58 
50 
44 

45 

48 
60 
52 
51 
52 


1.10 
1.11 
1.10 
1.00 
.96 

.95 
.91 

.90 

.88 

.87 


35 


2 .. 


22 


36 


3 


23 


35 


4. . 


24 


1.25 
1.22 

1.23 
1.24 
1.23 


24 


5 


25 . . 


21 


6 


26 


20 


7 


27::.::::::: 


17 


8 

9 


28 

29 


16 
15 


10 . 


30 


1.22 
1.16 


14 




31 






Mean 






12 




140 
.175 

.20 




96.4 
.120 

.14 




41.4 


13.. - . 


Mean per 
square 
mile 

Run - off 
depth in 
inches on 
drain ago 
area 






14 




15 


,052 


16 

17 

18 

19.. 


.06 


20 













Note.— The mean discharge for the period June 29-30 was 202 second-feet. 

QUARTZ CREEK BELOW THE FORKS. 

This station was established July 6, 1909, about IJ miles below 
the forks and about 2 miles above the mouth of Deer Creek. The 
discharge obtained from the records here gives the amount of water 
available for the proposed ditch, as there is practically no inflow 
between the station and the proposed intake. The measuring con- 
ditions were excellent and there was no shifting of the channel 
during the summer, so that the results obtained are good. 

The minimum flow recorded prior to the freeze up was 9.2 second- 
feet for the week July 28 to August 3, and this probably represents 
extreme low water for a summer season. 

Discharge measurements of Quartz Creek below the forks in 1909. 
FElevation, 570 feet.] 



Date. 



July 6. 

July 27 

Do 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
2.77 
1.72 
1.72 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
199 
11.9 
12.6 



Date. 



Aug. 20. 
Do. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.80 
1.80 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
16.8 
16.7 



244 



SUEFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second feet, of Quartz Creek below the forks 

for 1909. 

[Drainage area 56 square miles. Observer, Jack Beltz.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


1 




1 


1 




1 
ft 


4^ 

i 




1 


1 



s 


4J 




S 


i 
I 

1 




1 


1 .. 




80 
80 
70 
55 
45 

al99 
150 
100 
70 
120 

110 
100 

85 
75 
80 

70 
55 
45 
35 
30 


1.62 
1.59 
1.60 
1.70 
1.85 

1.77 
1.76 
1.74 
2.03 
2.90 

2.40 
2.32 

■i.'93' 

1.92 
1.85 
1.84 
1.83 
1.80 


8.8 
8.0 
8.2 
11.4 
19.9 

15.2 
14.6 
13.6 
36 
242 

96 
79 
61 
44 
26 

25 

19.9 

19.3 

18.7 
16.8 


1.75 
1.73 

1.72 
1.70 
1.69 

1.68 
1.67 
1.66 
1.65 
1.65 

1.64 
1.64 
1.64 
1.74 
1.80 

1.76 
1.77 
1.77 
1.70 
1.64 


14.1 
13.0 
12.5 
11.4 
11.1 

10.8 
10.4 
10.1 
9.8 
9.8 

9.5 
9.5 
9.5 
13.6 
16.8 

14.6 
15.2 
15.2 
11.4 
9.5 


21 




25 
20 
15 
12 
12 

12 

12.2 
10.1 
9.8 
9.8 
9.8 


1.79 

*i.'78' 
1.78 
1.77 

1.76 
1.76 
1.80 
1.80 
1.80 
1.77 


16.3 
16.0 
15.7 
15.7 
15.2 

14.6 
14.6 
16.8 
16.8 
16.8 
15.2 


1.62 
1.65 
1.66 
1.68 
1.66 

1.50 
1.45 


8 8 


2 




22 




9.8 


3 . . 




23 




10 1 


4 




24 




10.8 


5 




25 




10 1 


6 


2.77 


26 




6 


7 


27 


1.72 
1.66 
1.65 
.1.65 
1.65 


5.2 


8 




28 


5 


9 




29 


5.0 


10 




30 


5 






31 




11 


Mean.. 






12;!;;::;::: 






58.1 
1.04 

1.20 





30.9 
.552 

.64 





10.5 


13 




Mean per 
square 
mile. 






14 






15 




.188 


16 




R u n - ff , 
depth in 
inches on 
drainage 
area . 






17 






18 






19 




.21 


20 

















a Measurement was obtained after a heavy rain. 

Note. — Discharges from July 1-26 were estimated with the aid of a hydrograph following the rise and 
fall of KiwaUk River below Candle Creek. 



GLACIER CREEK ABOVE INTAKE OF CANDLE DITCH. 



A station was established about 100 feet above the intake of the 
Candle ditch July 31, 1908, to determine the amount of water 
available for the ditch. During 1908 channel conditions remained 
constant and good results were obtained, but circumstances com- 
bined to make the data obtained during 1909 only approximate. 
Mining and prospecting above the intake caused great changes in 
the stream bed above the intake so that the 1908 gage could not be 
used, and as the water was turned in and out of the ditch alternately 
throughout the season it was difficult to obtain records below the 
intake. Up to about August 1 of each year Glacier Creek has a 
diurnal variation due to the melting of the ' 'glacier." The minimum 
flow in 1908 was 1.7 second-feet, August 16-18 and 19, and the 
minimum of 1909 before the freeze up, was recorded during the later 
part of August and the first of September, when the discharge re- 
mained at 1.5 second-feet for some time. The discharge was still 
lower after the stream began to freeze in September, 



KIWALIK BIVEE DRAINAGE BASIN. 



245 



Discharge measurements of Glacier Creeh above intake of Candle ditch in 1908 and 1909. 

[Elevation, 409 feet.] 



Date. 



1908 

July 31 

Aug. 9 

Sept.3 

Sept. 4 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.20 
1.00 
1.03 
1.01 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
5.8 
1.9 
2.3 
2.0 



Date. 



July 1.. 
July 2.. 
July 28. 
July 29. 
Aug. 17. 



19C9. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.58 
1.50 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
7.8 
5.4 
2.7 
2.1 
1.6 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in secondfeet, of Glacier Creek above intake of 

Candle ditch for 1908. 
[Drainage area, 10 square miles; observer, C. O. Mason.] 





July. 


August. 


September, 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


i 


i 


4i 

1 


1 
ft 


i 


i 


1 


1 


1) 


1 


1 

S 

1 

o 


f 


1 




14.0 
12.0 
10.0 
8.5 
6.9 

5.5 
6.2 
6.4 
4.5 
4.4 

5.8 
5.1 
4.8 
4.4 
3.6 

2.9 
2.9 
2.9 
2.9 
2.9 


1.06 
1.02 
1.02 
1.04 
1.10 

1.12 
1.04 
1.02 
1.00 
1.00 

.99 
1.01 
1.00 
1.00 

.99 

.98 
.99 
.98 
.98 
1.01 


2.9 
2.2 
2.2 
2.5 
3.5 

4.0 
2.5 
2.2 
1.9 
1.9 

1.8 
2.1 
1.9 
1.9 
1.8 

1.7 
1.8 
1.7 
1.7 
2.1 


1.01 
1.01 
1.02 
1.01 
1.01 

1.03 
1.01 
1.01 
1.00 
1.04 

1.04 
1.02 
1.02 
1.02 
1.07 

1.19 
1.25 
1.28 
1.22 
1.20 


2.1 
2.1 
9.2 
2.1 
2.1 

2.4 
2.1 
2.1 
1.9 
^5 

2.5 
2.2 
2.2 
2.2 
3.0 

5.6 
7.3 
8.2 
6.4 
5.8 


21 




2.5 
2.5 
2.5 
2.5 
2.5 

2.0 
2.0 
2.0 
2.0 
2.0 
5.8 


1.00 
1.00 
1.04 
1.02 
1.01 

1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
1.01 


1.9 
1.9 
2.5 
2.2 
2.1 

1.9 
1.9 
1.9 
1.9 
1.9 
2.1 






2 




22 








3 




23 








4 




24 








5 




25 








6 




26 
















27 
















28 
















29 
















30 














11 


31 


1.20 






12 




Mean.. 






13 






4.67 
.467 

.54 




2.15 
.215 

.25 




3.35 


14 




Mean per 
sq. mile 






15 .. 




335 


16 




Run-off, 
depth in 
inches on 
draina g e 
area 






17 






18 






19 



























Daily discharge, in second-feet, of Glacier Creek above intake of Candle ditch for 1909. 
[Drainage area, 10 square miles. Observers, Ed Hansen, Joe Venus, and B. A. Harrison.] 



Day. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Day. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1 


50 
60 
64 
60 
60 

60 
50 
35 
25 
20 

36 
52 
63 
68 
63 

76 
33 
o26 
39 
34 


7.0 
5.7 
3.8 
3.0 
3.0 

2.9 
2.8 
2.9 
3.0 
3.3 

3.2 
3.1 
2.9 
2.8 
2.9 

2.8 
2.8 
2.9 
2.8 
2.8 


2.2 
2.2 
2.2 
2.5 
3.0 

2.4 
2.4 
2.4 
3.5 
•5.0 

4.0 
3.0 
2.9 
2.0 
1.8 

1.6 
1.6 
1.5 
1.5 
1.5 


1.6 
1.6 
1.6 
1.6 
1.6 

1.6 
1.5 
1.5 
1.5 
1.5 

1.5 
1.5 
1.6 
1.7 
1.8 

1.6 
1.4 
1.4 
1.4 
1.4 


21 ... 


16 
16 
15 
16 
10 

8 
11 
13 
10 

6 


2.7 
2.6 
2.6 
2.4 
2.5 

2.4 
2.4 
b2.4 
2.4 
2.3 
2.3 


1.5 
1.5 
1.5 
1.6 
1.6 

1.5 
1.5 
1.5 
1.5 
1.5 
1.5 


1 4 


2 


22 


1 4 


3 


23 


1 4 


4 


24 


1 4 


6 


25 . . 


1 3 


6 


26 






1.3 




27 


1.3 


q 


28 


1.3 




29 


1.3 




30 


1 3 


11.... 


31 




12 


Mean 

Mean per square 






13 


35.3 
3.53 

3.94 


3.01 
.301 

.35 


2.13 
.213 

.25 


1 43 


14 




15 


.143 


16 


Run-off, depth 
in inches on 
drainage area.. 




17 




18..... 


.16 


19 




20 









o Snow nearly gone. 6 "Glacier" nearly gone. 

Note.— Discharges for June are based on float measurements made by H. M. Long and R. S. Dimmick. 



246 



SUEFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



DOME CREEK AT SIPHON CROSSING. 

A gage was set about 25 feet below the siphon crossing on Dome 
Creek, July 1, 1909, for determining the amount of water which could 
be delivered into the Dome Creek lateral at the intake, about 3 miles 
above. Measurements at the two points seem to indicate that there 
is little or no inflow between the intake and the siphon crossing during 
periods of low water. It was not possible to obtain gage heights 
except during July. The discharge of 0.5 second-feet at the end of 
July was probably as low as any during the season. 

Discharge measurements of Dome Creek at siphon crossing, in 1908 and 1909, 
[Elevation, 230 feet.] 



July 31. 
Aug. 9. . 
Aug. 11. 
Sept. 5. 
Sept. 6. 



Date 



1908. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec. feet. 

0.69 

.54 

.43 

1.72 

1.88 



Date. 



1909, 

Julyl 

July 29 

Aug. 16 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.78 

.48 
.48 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec. feet. 
4.2 

.55 

.48 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Dome Creek at siphon crossing, 

for July, 1909. 

[Drainage area, 16 square miles. Observer, H. M. Long.) 



Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 ^ 


0.78 
.79 

■1 


4.2 
4.4 
3.6 
2.9 

2.8 

2.7 
2.6 
2.5 
2.3 
2.2 

1.7 
1.7 
1.5 
1.3 
l.i 

.9 

.7 

.7 

.7 
.7 


21 


0.50 
.50 
.50 
.49 


0.6 


2 


22 


.6 


3 


23 


.6 


4 


24 


.6 


5 


25 


.6 


6 




26 




.49 


.6 


7 




27 


.5 


8 




28 




.5 


9 




29 


.48 
.47 


.5 


10 


.65 
.62 


30 


.5 




31 ... 


.5 


\l 


Mean 






12.'.'.'.'.'.'..". '.'..'..'.'.. 




1.30 


13 





Mean per square mile 




.081 


14 





Run-off, depth in inches on 
drainage area 






15 




.09 


16 










17 






18 


.52 
.52 
.51 




19 




20 









HUNTER CREEK NEAR DITCH INTAKE. 



A station was established on Hunter Creek just above the mouth of 
Spruce Creek, which enters the main stream about 2 miles below the 
proposed ditch intake, on August 14, 1908, and gage readings were 
obtained for a portion of August and September. On July 5, 1909, 



KIWALIK RrSTEB DRAINAGE BASIK. 



247 



the station was reestablished about one-fourth mile below the intake. 
The results obtained show the amount of water available for the 
proposed ditch from Hunter Creek to Candle Creek. The channel 
was permanent and the measuring conditions were good. Consid- 
erable water flows under the gravel on the lower part of the creek, 
but it is thought that the underflow is not appreciable at the station, 
so that the discharge obtained represents the total amount that can 
be diverted at the ditch intake. 

The low-water period for 1908 probably came before the station 
was established. The mean minimum flow recorded for one week 
was 2.9 second-feet from July 28 to August 3, 1909. The absplute 
minimum recorded was 2.5 second-feet August 1 and 2, 1909, but a 
lower stage was probably reached near the end of September. 

Discharge measurements of Hunter Creek near ditch intake, in 1908 and 1909, 
[Elevation, 500 feet.] 



Date. 



1908 

Aug. 4 

Aug. 4 

Aug. 6 

Aug. 6 

Aug. 26 

Aug. 27 

Sept. 1 



Gage 


Dis- 


height. 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec.-n 


0.60 


6.5 


.60 


6.7 


.88 


16.7 


.88 


17.8 1 


.65 


7.3 


.64 


7.4 


.72 


10.3 



Date. 



1909 

Julys 

Julys 

July 27 

July 27 

Aug. 19 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.13 
1.15 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
12.2 
15.1 
3.6 
3.6 
3.4 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Hunter Creek near ditch intake, 

fai' 1908. 

[Drainage area, 37 square miles. Observer, F, Riley.J 





August. 


September. 


Day. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


h?fght. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 




8.0 
8.0 
7.0 
7.0 
13.0 

17.4 
15.8 

9.8 
11.0 

9.0 

8.0 
8.0 
7.0 

7.0 

8.5 

7.0 
6.1 
6.5 
6.1 
6.1 


0.70 
.71 
.80 

.85 
.82 

.81 
.72 
.70 
.65 
.61 

.61 
.61 
.60 
.61 
.61 

.85 
.95 
1.02 
.91 
.80 


9.0 
9.4 
13.0 
15.8 
14.1 

13.6 
9.8 
9.0 

7.8 
6.8 

0.8 
6.8 
6.5 
6.8 
6.8 

15.8 
21.8 
26.6 
19.1 
13.0 


21 


0.58 
.58 
.60 
.62 
.62 

.68 
.62 
.60 
.60 
.60 
.61 


6.1 
6.1 
6.5 
7.0 
7.0 

8.5 
7.0 
6.5 
6.5 
6.5 
6.8 






2 




22 






3 




23 







4 


0.62 
.80 

.88 
.85 
.72 
.75 


24 







5 


25 






6 


26 






7 


27 






8 


28 






9 


29 . . 






10 


30 










31 






11 


Mean 






12 




8.1 
.22 

.25 




11.9 


13 




Mean per square 
mile 






14 


. 


.32 


IS 


.68 

.62 
.58 
.60 
.58 
.58 


Run-off, depth 
in inches on 






16 


.24 


17 








18 




19 




20 









248 



SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



Daily gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, of Hunter Creek near ditch intake, 

for 1909. 
[Drainage area, 32 square miles. Observer, James Flood.) 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


i 


1 
ft 


1 
o 


1 
ft 


4^ 

to 

I 

1 

O 


1 


1 


a5 
1 


Xi 

1 


.1 
ft 


1 


1 


1 




14 
14 
13.0 
13.0 
12.9 

12.9 
11.6 
12.0 
16.6 
14 3 

12.0 

11.2 

9.7 

8.1 

7.5 

6.6 
5.8 
5.8 
5.2 
48 


0.75 
.75 

.78 
.91 
.^8 

.92 
.89 
.86 
1.06 
1.24 

1.14 
1.06 
1.01 
.96 
.94 

.90 
.90 
.86 
.82 
.82 


2.5 

2.5 
2.9 

5.5 
7.5 

5.8 

5.0 

44 

10.4 

18.7 

13.8 
10.4 
8.5 
6.9 
6.4 

5.2 
5.2 
44 
3.6 
3.6 




3.3 
3.3 
3.0 
3.0 
3.0 

2.8 
2.8 
2.8 
2.6 
2.6 

2.5 
2.4 
2.6 
3.6 
4 2 

3.7 
3.6 
3.5 
3.2 

2.8 


21 


0.85 

.82 
.92 
.88 
.85 

.81 
.82 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.78 


4 2 
3.6 
5.8 
4 8 
4 2 

3.4 
3.6 
3.2 
3.2 

11 


0.82 


3.6 
3.5 
3.5 
3.2 
3.0 

3.2 
3.2 
3.3 
3.5 
3.5 
3.3 





2.6 


2 




22 


2.4 


3 . . 




23 


2.4 






24 


2.4 


5 .... 


1.12 

1.12 
1.09 
1.10 
1.20 
1.15 

1.10 
1.08 
1.04 
1.00 
.98 

.95 
.92 
.92 
.90 

.88 


25 


2.2 


6 


26 


2.0 


7 


27 


1.8 


8 


28 


1.6 


9 


29 


1.6 


10 


30 


1.6 




31 




11 


Mean.. 






12 




8.16 
.255 

.29 




5.48 
.171 

.20 












Mean per 
square 






14 




15 


.085 


16.... 


Run-off, 
depth in 
inches on 
drainage 




17 




18 




19 




20 


.09 











Note.— Discharges from August 22 to September 30 are estimated with the aid of a hydrograph following 
the rise and fall of Quartz Creek. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 

The following is a list of miscellaneous measurements made in the 
Kiwalik River drainage basin. 

Miscellaneous measurements in Kiwalik River basin in 1908 and 1909. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Tributary to— 


Locality. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


Dis- 
charge 

per 
square 
mile. 


Aug. 27,1908 

Aug. 30,1908 
Aug. 27,1908 

Aug. 30,1908 


North Fork of 
Quartz Creek. 

do 

South Fork of 

Quartz Creek. 

do 


Kiwalik River... - 
do 


Proposed ditch 

intake. 
.....do 


Feet. 
590 

590 
580 

580 
550 
430 

430 
430 
430 
430 

"'"'383' 
383 

2 

2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 


Sec.-ft. 
13.4 

8.7 
13.1 

8.6 
6.1 
1,43 

1.90 
3.20 
1.04 
1.20 
.20 

.30 
.47 

2.4 
.39 

2.4 

.07 
.0 
.50 
2.6 
1.71 
6.3 
.72 
.86 
7.2 
.0 
.30 


Sq. mi. 
21 

21 
26 

26 
8.7 
9.0 

9.0 
9.0 
9.0 
9.0 
4 

4.0 
40 
9.0 
9.0 


Sec.-ft. 
0.64 

.41 


. do 


do 


.50 


do 


do 


.33 


Aug. 27,1908 
Aug. 10,1908 

Sept. 4,1908 
July 2,1909 
July 28,1909 
Aug. 16,1909 
Aug. 10,1908 

Sept. 24,1908 
July 2,1909 
Sept. 5,1908 
July 29,1909 
June 30,1909 

Aug. 12,1908 
July 29,1908 
Aug. 13,1908 
Aug. 25,1908 
Sept. 9,1908 
J\me 29,1909 
July 6,1909 
July 8,1909 
July 10,1909 
July 30,1909 
Aug. 14,1909 


Deer Creek 

GoldRxm 

do 

do 

do 

do.... 

Boulder Creek.. - 

do 

do 

Dome Creek 

do 

Eldorado Creek. - 

Bumside Creek. . 

Candle Creek... - 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 


Quartz Creek 

Kiwalik River 

do.-... 


Near mouth 

Proposed ditch 

intake. 
.....do 


.70 
.16 

.21 


do 

do 

do 


do 

do 

do 


.36 
.12 
.13 


Gold Run 


At proposed 
ditch intake. 

do 

do 

At ditch intake.. 
do 


.050 


do 

do 

Kiwalik River 

.. do 


.075 
.12 
.27 
.043 


do 

Eldorado Creek... 

Kiwalik River 

do.-..-- 

do 


At siphon cross- 

...•"lo 

At mouth 

do.. 

do 








60 
60 
60 
60 
60 
60 
60 
60 
60 
60 


.00 

.008 

.043 


do 


do .. . 


.028 


do 


do 


.105 


do 


do 


.012 


do 


do 


.014 


.... do 


.... do... 


.12 


do 


do 


.00 


do 


do 


.005 









WATEE POWERS. 249 

BEAR CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 
DESCRIPTION. 

Bear Creek rises opposite the headwaters of Quartz and Hunter 
creeks and flows southeastward for about 20 miles into West Fork 
of Buckland River. Its principal tributaries are Eagle, Polar, Split, 
Bob, and Cub creeks from the west, and May, Camp, and Sheridan 
creeks from the east. Placers are being developed at several places 
in the basin. The Bear Creek ditch has its intake just below the 
mouth of May Creek and extends along the right bank nearly to Split 
Creek, diverting water from Eagle and Polar creeks. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 

Miscellaneous measurements were made in 1908 of Bear, Eagle, and 
Polar creeks at the ditch intake and of the other principal streams 
near their mouths. 

Miscellaneous measurements in Bear Creek drainage basin, 1908. 



Date. 


Stream and locality. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Date. 


Stream and locality. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Aug. 6 
Aug. 28 
Aug. 31 
Aug. 29 
Aug. 5 
Aug. 28 


Bear Creek at intake 


Sec.-ft. 

1.6 

.4 

.5 

19.2 

1.2 

1.4 

1.2 

2.9 


Aug. 28 
Aug. 31 
Aug. 5 
Aug. 28 
Aug. 31 
Aug. 29 
Do... 


Polar Creek at intake . ... 


Sec.-ft. 
2.1 


do 

do 

Bear Creek above Cub Creek. 

Eagle Creek at intake 

do 


do 

Split Creek at mouth 


2.3 
16.0 


do 

do 

Bob Creek at mouth 


4.0 
3.3 
5.9 


Aug. 31 


do 


Cub Creek at mouth 


12.3 


Aug. 5 


Polar Creek at intake 







WATER POWER. 

By F. F. Henshaw. 
GENERAL CONDITIONS. 

None of the many localities in Seward Peninsula where water- 
power developments are possible have yet been utihzed. In the past 
the high price of fuel, and consequently of power, has directed atten- 
tion to several power sites, but up to 1910 little was accompHshed at 
any of these beyond surveys and stream measurements. The pro- 
moters of these enterprises have probably not been too hesitant 
about entering upon power development which would call for a large 
investment, with a market for the product as yet both limited and 
uncertain. It has been estimated by Mr. Brooks (p. 296) that the 
total horsepower of aU the dredges of the peninsula in 1910 was 2,500, 
and it is probable that all other uses of power will require less than 
1,000 horsepower. In this estimate the water power used in hydraulic 
mining and hydraulic elevators is, of course, not taken into account. 



250 SUKFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

One of the largest power plants on the peninsula is that of the elec- 
tric-light plant at Nome, which is run by steam, consuming coal. In 
the past considerable power was used in connection with underground 
mining in the vicinity of Nome, each mine generating its own power 
(pp. 298-299) with coal, gasoline, or fuel oil. These mines also used a 
large amount of steam for thawing the ground ; indeed, the amount of 
fuel required for this purpose is usually much greater than that needed 
for hoisting the gravel. The amount of power used in underground 
mining has varied widely from year to year and of late has declined 
very considerably. The dredges are the greatest power users at 
present and promise a still greater field for the future, for each dredge 
requires from 150 to 250 horsepower to run its bucket chain, pumps, 
and lines. (See pp. 292-297.) 

Coal for these operations cost in 1909 from $18 to $25 or $30 a ton, 
delivered at the dredge, but fuel oil is cheaper per heat unit. It is 
probable that the cost per horsepower used on the dredge will average 
close to $100 for the season, making an aggregate expenditure of some 
$250,000 a year for power. 

It should also be noted that practically all the power is used within 
10 miles of the Bering Sea coast, which is the zone of comparatively 
cheap fuel. Moreover, fuel oil is getting cheaper every year, and 
hence there is likely to be strong competition between steam plants 
and water-power plants. If the production of CaUfornia oil con- 
tinues to increase, it is quite possible that fuel oil may be landed at 
Nome at $2, or even as low as $1 a barrel. T. M. Gibson ^ has recently 
expressed the opinion that a fuel-oil plant at Nome could furnish 
power at a cost of $7.50 per horsepower month. It is doubtful whether 
a hydroelectric plant at any of the most favorable sites in the penin- 
sula could compete with this rate. 

In the central part of the peninsula imported fuels wiU always be 
much higher than on the coast, and here the commercial possibilities 
of water-power development are better. There is, however, another 
possible source of comparatively cheap power in the lignite deposits 
of the Chicago Creek coal field. A plant located at the coal mine 
might be able to furnish power in competition with a hydroelectric 
plant, which, moreover, would at certain times in the year be at a 
disadvantage with a steam plant. Ditches furnishing water for 
hydraulic mining can be used on an average only from early in June 
until about the first week in October — that is, not more than four 
months, though water-power plants can probably be so constructed 
that their main conduits would not be subject to so great interrup- 
tions in service or delay in opening as the ordinary ditch, in which 
event the period of operation would be limited largely by the water 
supply of the stream used and by the climatic conditions. 

1 Gibson, T. M., Nome dredges in 1910: Min. and Sci. Press, vol. 102, 1910, p. 23. 



WATER POWERS. 251 

The spring break-up usually occurs about the middle of May, and 
the freeze-up may be expected by the middle of October, thus giving 
an operating period of about five months for an average plant. A 
plant located at the outlet of a large body of stored water, such as 
Salmon Lake, might be operated for a longer period, possibly during 
the entire year. Unless a plant were supplied from such a natural 
reserve, however, it probably could not be operated for more than 
six or seven months, at the most. If the power from a hydroelectric 
plant were to be used only for dredging and other forms of open-cut 
mining, it would, of course, be needed only during the summer 
months. Low water in dry years, such as 1908 and 1909, would be 
another handicap to power development, the more so because the 
low-water periods come in July and August, at about the time when 
the maximum power load would have to be provided for. 

Next to the streams draining large lakes, the best for power develop- 
ment are those rising in the Kigluaik Mountains, for they have the 
steadiest flow and the largest amount of concentrated fall. Unfortu- 
nately, these streams also have the shortest season, as the freeze-up 
on them comes early and reduces the flow to a minimum for the open 
season, even before the cold weather would necessitate suspending 
the operation of a power plant. 

There is little basis for estimating the cost of water-power develop- 
ment in Seward Peninsula, but it would no doubt be high, both in 
aggregate and per horsepower, as compared with the States. There 
are no exceptionally favorable localities where water power can be 
developed at low cost, such as a fall with a high sheer drop or a dam 
site in a narrow gorge, combined with a well-sustained flow. 

The future of water-power development within the peninsula 
depends on the mining industry. If dredging continues to increase 
as it has during the past few years, especially if dredging ground is 
developed in the central part of the peninsula, some of the water 
powers described in the following pages may have value. Chances 
are good that workable lode deposits may be found whose exploita- 
tion would enlarge the market for power, though water-power plants 
are likely to find strong competitors in the plants using mineral fuels, 
particularly oil. 

The operating cost of water powers is generally much less than that 
of steam powers, but the initial investment is much greater. In 
view of the many uncertainties connected with power development 
in this field, the likelihood of any extensive developments, under 
conditions that can now be foreseen, is not great. 

POWER SITES. 

Of the two power sites which have been investigated most 
thoroughly, one is located on Kruzgamepa Kiver at the outlet of 
Salmon Lake about 40 miles in a direct line from both Nome and 



252 SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PEISTINSULA. 

Solomon, and the other at Pass and Smith creeks, north of the 
mountains and about 10 mUes farther from the present centers of 
distribution. 

The proposed development at Salmon Lake is one involving the 
use of a large volume of water under a low head. The plans formu- 
lated by the Salmon Lake Power Co. in 1905 and 1906, when it had 
this project under consideration, are of sufficient interest to be 
described somewhat in detail. 

Salmon Lake has been formed by the damming of Kruzgamepa 
River by morainic material brought down by the glaciers which 
formerly occupied the valleys of the Kigluaik Mountains and extended 
some distance beyond their flanks. The outlet of the lake has been 
cut through this moraine, and a dam site has been formed, about 150 
feet long at the bottom and about 600 feet long at an elevation of 50 
feet above the present lake surface. The morainic material is 
composed largely of gravel and angular fragments of no great size 
and was evidently in part laid down in water, as it shows a certain 
degree of stratification and is interbedded with clays and silts. It is 
not unlikely that there may be, at a reasonable distance below the 
surface, a stratum of bowlder clay or other impervious material on 
which a cut-off wall could be founded, but so far as known to the 
writer the existence of such a stratum has not been demonstrated. 
The plan contemplated the buildtQg of a concrete core wall supported 
on either side by hydraulic fill. Gravel is abundant on the east end 
of the site at sufficient elevation above the proposed crest so that it 
could readily be sluiced in to form the dam. It was proposed to 
divert the water of Crater Creek, which enters Kruzgamepa River 
about 4 miles below the lake by ditch around the south slopes of the 
Kigluaik Mountains and by pipe to the dam site, and to use this 
water to move and distribute this gravel in the dam by the hydraulic 
method. The water could also be used in hydraulic elevators to sink 
the trench iq which the core wall would be built. 

The discharge from the lake was to be conducted through the dam 
in wood-stave pipes laid in concrete, which would end in a power 
house built at a lower toe of the dam. Special precautions were to be 
taken to enable the plant to run all winter. The tailrace was to 
consist of long pipes which would extend some distance below the 
power house. It would be necessary to give the water sufficient 
velocity in the pipes so that it would not freeze and cause backwater 
on the turbines. The operation of this proposed power plant during 
the winter would probably present a problem whose solution would 
require considerable time and study. 

The north side of the Kigluaik Mountains is drained by a series of 
creeks which rise in high glacial cirques, have a rapid fall, and carry 
a good volume of water throughout the summer season. Their 



WATEK POWERS. '253 

basins have all been subjected to heavy glaciation, wbich bas resulted 
in the formation of numerous cirques and lakes. The gradient of 
many of the creeks is broken into flat portions separated by steep 
torrential stretches. A great mass of morainic debris lies beyond 
the flanks of the mountains, and it is over this deposit that the creeks 
have their greatest fall. The aggregate water power of all these 
streams is enormous, perhaps as much as 40,000 or 50,000 horsepower 
for normal low- water conditions. 

At two localities these creeks present especially favorable condi- 
tions for power development. All these streams have been surveyed 
by private engineers with a view to determining their water-power 
possibilities, and measurements of their discharge have been made by 
the Geological Survey. 

Pass and Smith creeks are probably the most favorably situated 
for furnishing electric energy. The valley occupied by Pass Creek 
was filled within recent geologic time by a glacier, as is shown by the 
topography of the valley floor. This glacier built up a flat-topped 
moraine which extends out nearly a mile from the mountain front. 
On top of the moraine, at an elevation of about 1,100 feet, are 
two lakes, both of which are favorably located to provide storage. 
Below the lower lake the creek falls nearly 1,000 feet in 2 miles. 
Smith Creek lies west of Pass Creek, and although it presents no 
storage facilities it has a large volume of flow at a high elevation. 
The power development planned for these creeks provided for a dam 
below the lakes on Pass Creek, in order to create a large reservoir, 
and a main pipe line laid from this to the power plant, which would 
be located in the flat 2 or 3 miles below this point and about the 
same distance from tidewater on lower Kruzgamepa River. The 
waters of Smith Creek would be diverted at an elevation of about 
1,200 feet and led through a flume constructed along the mountain 
side into the storage basin on Pass Creek. 

As shown by the discharge record of these two streams, the com- 
bined low-water flow could be maintained at 50 second-feet all 
summer with a few thousand acre-feet of storage. This would 
generate about 4,500 continuous horsepower, and the development 
could be increased either by raising the dam or by diverting addi- 
tional water from creeks farther west. Either alternative would be 
rather costly and only a careful investigation of the engineering 
problem involved would indicate which one is the cheaper. The 
maximum possibility of this plant would probably be about 10,000 
continuous horsepower during a working season of 120 to 140 days. 
It would not be possible to run the plant during the winter, and the 
period of successful operation would probably extend from late in 
May until about the middle of October. 



254 SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 

Cobblestone River is the largest stream on the north side of the 
mountains, but it rises at a considerably lower elevation than the 
streams just described and its fall is, therefore, not nearly so steep. 
This fact renders it much less favorable for power development, as 
the cost of a project depends to a great degree on the length of pipe 
required for a given head. 

Fall and Pond creeks lie west of the Cobblestone and flow into the 
south side of the Imuruk Basin. In some ways they are counter- 
parts of Pass Creek. Each flows, at an elevation of about 1,200 feet, 
through a lake, below which there is a large amount of concentrated 
fall. About 2 miles of pipe on Pond Creek and about 4 miles on Fall 
Creek would be required to obtain a head of 1,000 feet. It would be 
possible to construct two pipes, one on the east side of Fall Creek 
and the other on the west side of Pond Creek, around the hills on a 
hydraulic grade line and to discharge the water into a common pres- 
sure pipe which would have to be from 1 to IJ miles long to obtain 
1,000 feet head. Another alternative would be to run a tunnel about 
2 miles long through the mountains from the lake on Fall Creek to 
that on Pond Creek. Whether this would be cheaper than pipes led 
around the mountain side, even if it is feasible, is doubtful. 

From the discharge of the two streams, given on pages 150-151, it 
would seem that with a moderate amount of storage a discharge of 
80 second-feet, which would produce about 7,000 continuous horse- 
power, could be maintained continuously throughout the summer. 
Both Glacier Creek and Snow Gulch, which lie to the east of Pond 
Creek, have a well-maintained flow, and their waters could be diverted 
into this system by flumes of moderate length. A large volume of 
storage could be obtained at the lake on Fall Creek if it were required, 
and the maximum possible development at this site would probably 
be somewhat greater than that on Pass and Smith creeks. 

The water-power possibilities of the Bendeleben Mountains are 
rather large in the aggregate, but are much less favorable than those 
of the Kigluaik Mountains. The streams of this area have a lower 
gradient and a smaller volume of flow than those of the higher 
mountains to the west, and storage facilities are practically lacking. 

North of the mountains favorable power sites are very rare. On 
Kougarok River just above Coarse Gold Creek there is a wide bend 
which brings two points nearly 2 J miles apart by river within less 
than 600 feet in a direct line. A tunnel between these points would 
make available a head of about 17 feet in addition to the height of 
the diversion dam. The great drawback to this site is the fact that 
the low-water flow of the river is very small, falling below 20 second- 
feet practically every year. At a favorable site on Noxapaga River, 
a short distance above Goose Creek, the river drops about 95 feet in 



DITCHES, 255 

a little less than 2 miles. The minimum flow in an ordinary year 
seems to be about 60 second-feet, though a discharge of only 33 
second-feet was measured in 1909. The latter figure would make 
only about 250 horsepower available. The falls have been formed 
by a lava flow which dammed the river and has produced a lake 
several miles long. If the project were feasible, a considerable 
volume of storage could be created by building a dam at the head of 
the falls, but this point is isolated and no large body of placer ground 
is known in the vicinity, so that a demand for the power is not 
probable. 

A large amount of power could be developed at one point in the 
Fairhaven district, namely, on Kugruk Hiver below Imuruk Lake. 
The locality is described in connection with the river description. 
(See p. 229.) The amount of power that could be generated at this 
point is probably large. The total water supply available from 
Imuruk Lake for a season of 120 days is given as about 250 second- 
feet (p. 231). The Fairhaven ditch will never require more than 60 
or 80 second-feet of this amount, so that at least 170 second-feet will 
be left for possible water-power developments. The head that could 
be obtained is nearly 500 feet, which would indicate that about 
7,500 hydraulic horsepower could be developed through the mining 
season, an amount far in excess of any possible demands in this 
region. 

In general it may be said that there are in Seward Peninsula 
water powers favorably situated for hydroelectric development 
amounting to some 30,000 or 40,000 horsepower, besides a much 
greater amount of power which could never be considered feasible 
either commercially or as a matter of engineering. 

DITCHES. 

By F. F. Henshaw. 
INTRODUCTION. 

The construction of ditches in Seward Peninsula has had to face 
many unfavorable conditions and difficulties peculiar to the frozen 
north, but in spite of these handicaps more than 400 miles of ditch 
having a capacity of 20 second-feet or over have been built. These 
waterways have constituted an important field of investment and the 
mining operations dependent on them have contributed a large quota 
to the gold production of the area. 

The first ditch was built from upper Glacier Creek to Snow Gulch in 
1901, and as extended in 1902 and 1903 formed the present Miocene 
system. The next long ditch to be built was the Canyon ditch, on 



256 SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

Ophir Creek, which was also begun in 1901 and finished in 1903. The 
greatest activity in ditch building began in 1905 and lasted until 
about 1907. During this period about two-thirds of the total length 
of ditches now existing in Seward Peninsula were constructed. 

The principal difficulties that ditch builders in Seward Peninsula 
have had to face have been due to the frozen condition of the ground, 
the diflS-Culty and expense of transportation, and the shortness of the 
working season. Of these the frozen ground is peculiar to the north 
and has probably been the greatest drawback to rapid and economical 
construction. 

The following list has been prepared to give the salient features of 
the larger ditches in Seward Peninsula. The data given are not 
altogether complete and are for certain ditches only approximate; 
for instance, the capacity of a given ditch will vary from point to 
point and will change materially from year to year, increasing if the 
repair work is thoroughly and carefully done, and decreasing if the 
ditch is built in bad ground and is neglected. 

Only ditches which have capacities of approximately 20 second- 
feet or more, and which may therefore be regarded as having a part in 
large-scale operations, are listed. Ditches that have been started 
and then abandoned, even though several miles may have been buUt, 
are not considered. Accordingly, many ditches included in former 
lists ^ are omitted. 

1 Water-supply investigations in Alaska: Water-Supply Paper U. S Geol. Survey, No. 218, 1908, pp. 75-76 
and 95. 



DITCHES. 



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258 SUKPACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAKB PENINSULA. 

METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION. 

Ditches are constructed by several different methods, according 
to the conditions of the ground encountered. Horses have been used 
for the work wherever possible. In one method the ground is first 
prepared by removing the moss and turf from a strip 40 or 50 feet 
wide on either side of the ditch. This should be done, if possible, 
the summer before actual construction is begun, in order that the 
ground may thaw more readily. Actual construction begins with 
plowing (see PL II, p. 12), after which some of the material is moved 
with a grader from the upper side of the ditch to the lower bank 
until a practically flat bench is produced. The cut is then excavated 
with horse scrapers down to grade, and the material piled up on the 
lower bank. The ditch is finished by hand, and both bottom and 
bank are trimmed to an even grade and alignment. (See PL VI.) 
The method above described is practicable where the ground con- 
tains only small or medium sized rocks and is about the cheapest and 
most rapid that can be used, but it requires exceptionally favorable 
conditions to make it a success. Where the ground is naturally 
unfrozen or can be made to thaw easily, and where other conditions 
are similar to those encountered in a temperate climate, no difficulty 
is experienced. 

Wherever the ground is frozen muck, or so-called '^ glacier," it 
melts rather slowly when exposed to the air, and the work of exca- 
vation must be done by hand while it thaws. The best practice is to 
keep exposed as large an area as possible and to remove the soil in 
thin layers. Practically all the ditches north of the mountains were 
built by this method. 

More or less rock work has to be done on all the ditches. Some of 
them have had to pass around cliffs of practically solid rock where 
the construction required a large amount of blasting (PL VII). 
Rock cuts offer no problems not met in other fields except in the 
method of making the ditch tight, which is done by the use of a 
peculiar tough and tenacious sod abundant in many places in the 
north. The sod is cut with mattocks into pieces 1 to 2 feet square 
and placed in the ditch, bottom up. Two layers are usually placed in 
the bottom, breaking joints as well as possible, and the whole is 
carefully and solidly tamped into place. The sides of the ditch are 
made tight with a sod wall, the pieces being laid one above another, 
bottom up. Where the sod is above the water line part of the time, the 
grass usually continues to grow and its living roots bind the material 
more closely and firmly together. The best sod, and the only kind 
which fully meets the requirements, is that containing grass roots 
and very little moss, for the moss is less tenacious and decays more 
rapidly. Grass, however, is not abundant in many places, and it is 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 314 PLATE VI 




A. CANDLE DITCH, FAIRHAVEN DISTRICT. 




B. HOMESTAKE DITCH, SHOWING SOD WORK. 



DITCHES. 259 

therefore often necessary to use sod of inferior quality, with corre- 
spondingly unsatisfactory results. For example, on the Fairhaven 
ditch there is a great deal of rockwork and much frozen ground which 
becomes very soft on thawing, and a great deal of sod was needed. 
Sod could be found only in small isolated patches, and much of it 
had to be taken from the river bottoms far below the line of the ditch 
at considerable expense. In the Kougarok region, however, sod is 
fairly abundant and has been used very freely, and in southern 
Seward Peninsula sod of a good quality can usually be found. Plate 
VI, B, shows a typical portion of a ditch protected by sod as described 
above. 

Canvas has been used in some places to line ditches, but it is 
expensive and is reported to be not wholly satisfactory. If it is 
disturbed after it is once laid down, it is likely to be torn, in which 
event it becomes practically useless. 

In ground composed largely of frozen muck or ground ice special 
methods and precautions must be used. This material when it 
thaws leaves a soft residue, largely mud and decomposed vegetable 
matter, which may be only 20 or 30 per cent of the original volume. 
Water flowing across such material causes it to thaw rapidly, and 
consequently when a ditch is built through it precautions must be 
taken to prevent too much thawing. Where the muck is present the 
portion nearest the surface usually contains much more earthy mat- 
ter than that just below, and in many places there is a layer of blue 
clay just beneath the moss. The vegetable matter close to the sur- 
face is also less completely decayed. and therefore more solid and 
tenacious than that lower down. If this surface covering is allowed 
to remain in place and the ditch built over it by building up the lower 
bank with sod and with material stripped from the top, good results 
can usually be obtained. When the stripping is carried to just about 
the right depth, the water, after being turned into the ditch, will 
cause the ground to thaw a little. The bottom will settle a few 
inches, and then the ditch practically builds itself, so that eventually 
the water is carried in a section entirely below the surface of the 
ground, and the ditch can not leak, because its sides are all soft, 
finely divided material, mostly muck and clay, backed by solid and 
impervious frozen ground. These ideal conditions are generally 
aimed at by ditch builders but are attained only at certain localities 
and by special care in building and watchfulness in maintaining the 
ditch. 

Most of the Fairhaven ditch was built in 1906 before builders had 
gained much experience with ground of this character. Through 
a large part of its course it passes over ground that is perma- 
nently frozen. The ditch was built under a contract which called 



260 SUKFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 

for a cut of 12 inches below the ground surface of the lower bank, 
and the contractors were held rigidly to the specifications. As a 
result, all the surface covering was removed, and the ditch bottom 
was made in frozen ground containing only a small percentage of 
solid material. When the water was turned in this frozen muck 
thawed and the ditch settled in some places 3 or 4 feet. The material 
thus melted yielded enough solid matter so that in many places a 
fairly good bottom resulted and the thawing did not progress any 
farther. At other points the ditch bottom practically sank ^Vout of 
sight." The water cut under the lower bank and bad breaks resulted. 

The Candle ditch, a view of which is shown in Plate VI, A, was 
built in a drainage basin adjacent to that in which the Fairhaven 
ditch is located and encountered much ground of a similar character 
but apparently containing a somewhat higher percentage of solid 
matter. It is smaller than the Fairhaven ditch and was built with 
a cut on the lower bank of about 8 or 9 inches. This ditch has settled 
in a great many places, but when the writer last visited it, in 1909, 
it was on the whole in somewhat better condition than the Fair- 
haven ditch. In one section where the ground had cut badly the 
ditch had evidently been given an excessive grade, and the water 
attained a velocity sufficient to scour away the fine material as it 
thawed. As a result a deep cut was eroded, and only the fact that 
this occurred on fiat ground prevented a bad break. 

The necessity of keeping the grade of the ditch and the velocity 
of the water low in ground of this character is very important and 
can not be too strongly emphasized. The Fairhaven ditch was laid 
out with a grade of 4.22 feet to the mile, and as it was designed to 
carry water to depths of 2 feet or more the resulting velocities were 
rather high, a condition which contributed in no small degree to the 
cutting that resulted in the soft ground. The grade of the Candle 
ditch was only 3.69 feet to the mile and the ditch itself is of smaller 
dimensions, so that the resulting velocities were lower and the diffi- 
culties encountered correspondingly less. 

In many places a ditch in ground of this character should not be 
given a grade greater than 2| feet to the mile. The ditch can be 
built wide and with a shallow cut. It will then ''make itself" at a 
very small expense, and the low velocity resulting will tend to give 
a permanent and satisfactory waterway. 

FLUMES. 

It has been the object of most ditch builders in the north to mini- 
mize the use of flumes because of the high price of lumber, with the 
result that this form of construction is much less common than in 
ditches in the States. (See PL VIII, A and B.) 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 514 PU\TE VIII 




A. FLUME ON OPHIR CREEK. 




B. FLUME OF TOPKOK DITCH, NEAR BLUFF. 



DITCHES. 261 

Flumes are unsatisfactory for two or three reasons. In the first 
place the lumber generally has to be imported. Its cost laid down 
at Nome or at other landing places is heavy, and the cost of freight- 
ing it into the interior where it is to be used is often still heavier. The 
cost of the flume lumber used on the Pargon ditch in the Council 
country is said to have been nearly $200 a thousand feet. In the 
eastern part of the peninsula native lumber can be used for the 
trestles and collars, but it is so poor in quality that it should not be 
used for the flume itself. 

Another objection to a flume is that it is less permanent than an 
earth ditch. The waterway is out of commission and exposed to 
the elements for eight or nine months in the year. In many places, 
too, especially in the mountains, the country is subject to snowslides, 
which may wreck considerable sections of a flume, though they 
would have little effect on a ditch. The Pargon flume has suffered 
damage on several occasions from slides. Snowdrifts may pile on 
the flume to considerable depth, and the snow as it settles will break 
the trestles, crush the bottom, and spread the sides. The part of 
the Golden Gate ditch on Iron Creek, which was built as flume, was 
rendered practically useless by the snows of the first winter after it 
was built, largely by the settling of heavy drifts upon it. 

The difficulty of obtaining proper foundations presents a third 
problem. The settling of a ditch bottom or bank 2 or 3 or even 6 or 
8 inches is not a serious matter, particularly if the settlement is 
fairly uniform throughout a considerable section; but any consider- 
able settling of the foundation of a flume will open joints, loosen the 
bottom, and cause the flume not only to leak but perhaps even to 
fall to pieces. 

As previously stated, the Pargon ditch, in the Council district, is 
composed largely of flumes, the total length of this form of construc- 
tion being 13,372 feet. The longest continuous stretch extends most 
of the way from McKelvie Creek to Helen Creek. The flume is 8 
feet wide and 2 feet deep and is set on a grade of 4.22 feet to the 
mile, the same as the earth sections of the waterway. Dressed 
lumber IJ inches thick was used, battened with 2 by i inch strips. 
The trestles, stringers, and collars are all of native spruce, which was 
cut near Duncan Creek, sawed in a portable mill installed for the 
purpose, and hauled to the Pargon during the winter of 1904-5. 
The flume is laid mostly over a talus of heavy blocks of granite and 
schist. The subfoundations were solid most of the way, but no 
mudsills were used and the trestlework was poorly built and improp- 
erly braced, so that the conduit gets out of order frequently. In 
1909 the average depth of water that could be carried had been 
reduced to about 16 inches owing to damage done to the flume. 



262 SUKFACE WATEK SUPPLY OP SEWAKD PENINSULA. 

One of the most notable examples of successful flume construction 
over frozen ground that has been seen by the writer is the Miocene 
ditch. This flume is 1,100 feet long and has a width of 8 feet and 
a depth of 28 inches. It was constructed in 1901, and until 1906 
or 1907 it retained practically perfect alignment, both horizontal and 
vertical. No extensive repairs were necessary on it until 1909. In 
putting in the foundation trenches were dug 3 or 4 feet deep in the 
frozen ground, which was practically all ice. A sill was laid in the 
bottom of the trench and the uprights fastened to this sill. The 
excavated material was then replaced in the trenches and allowed 
to freeze again into its original condition. Sod was carefully placed 
over the trench, the uprights were then sawed off to grade, and the 
flume constructed on them. Even with all these precautions, how- 
ever, at the end of about eight years the flume was in such bad shape 
that extensive repairs had to be made. 

SIPHONS AND PIPE LINES. 

Siphons have been used extensively to cross side streams in order 
to save expense and distance and loss of water by seepage. They 
vary in size from small ones containing a few hundred feet of 16 to 

18 inch pipe to one more than 2 miles long on the Candle ditch across 
Eldorado and Burnside creeks. Riveted steel pipe has been used in 
most of the construction, though wood-stave pipe was employed for 
two siphons, 42 inches in diameter and 1,050 and 800 feet long, which 
were built to carry the waters of the Seward ditch across Hobson and 
Clara creeks. The pipe was of the continuous-stave, steel-banded 
style, similar to that used on the Grand Central pipe line, which will 
be described later. 

The first large siphon built, that of the Miocene ditch across Manila 
Creek, is about 1,000 feet in length and is composed of 40-inch steel 
pipe with joints riveted throughout. It has a capacity of 60 second- 
feet. 

The siphon on the North Star ditch of the Taylor Creek Ditch Co. 
extends across the vaUey of Taylor Creek about 2 miles above its 
mouth. It is composed of heavy 40-inch steel pipe, is 2,600 feet 
long, and is riveted throughout, there being no slip joints. The pipe 
is carried across the creek on a suspension bridge about 100 feet long. 
The difference in water level in the ditch at the ends of the siphon is 

19 feet and the pressure head at the bottom 150 feet. The capacity 
of the siphon is nearly 60 second-feet. 

In most of the other siphons on Seward Peninsula the joints have 
been made without riveting. In making slip joints the pipe whosi© 
end is of larger diameter is heated by placing burlap dipped in kero- 
sene around it and igniting it. The pipes are then driven together 



DITCHES. 263 

by means of a heavy ram, which is directed against a driving plate 
covering the opposite end of the pipe. The ram is handled by two 
men, or, if the pipe is large, is swung from a tripod. The slip joints 
are driven to give an overlap of 4 to 6 inches, depending on the size 
of the pipe. This method is cheaper and much more rapid than 
riveting, although a little more pipe is required on account of the 
greater overlap given to the unriveted joints. In long lines of pipe 
there is some tendency for the pipe to heave with the expansion and 
contraction due to changes in temperature, and this may even pro- 
ceed so far as to cause some of the joints to fall apart; but it can be 
minimized by keeping the pipe full practically all the time, as the 
water has a nearly constant temperature. The pipe should also be 
covered with sod, moss, or earth in order to further protect it. In 
long pipes like that of the Candle ditch, which are driven with slip 
joints, two sections will occasionally pull apart. In such a con- 
tingency it is usually necessary to make a lead joint, a process too 
well known to need description here. 

Only one conduit line, the Grand Central pipe line of the Wild 
Goose Mining & Trading Co., has been constructed entirely of pipes. 
Continuous wood-stave pipe 42 inches in diameter was used, except 
for a few hundred feet at the intake where the diameter was 48 
inches. The staves are 6 inches wide, IJ inches thick, and rounded 
to fit the hoops. The pipe is laid along a shelf cut in the hillside and 
afterwards back filled, the pipe being covered and protected with rock 
and earth. Wrought-iron bands one-half inch in diameter, threaded 
on both ends, were used. The bands are spaced about 1 foot apart 
where the pipe is on the hydraulic grade line and are placed closer 
where depressions have to be crossed in order to give sufficient 
strength to resist the pressure. The pipe has its intake on Crater 
Lake, and branches extend from the North and West forks of Grand 
Central River to the lake. 

The pipe had not been completed at the time of the last visit made 
by a member of the Survey to the Grand Central basin. Accordingly 
the pipes had not been tested in actual operation, so it is not known 
just how this form of construction will be found adapted to conditions 
in Alaska. 

SEEPAGE LOSSES. 

By G. L. Parker. 

The amount of seepage which may be expected in a ditch built 
under the conditions which exist in Seward Peninsula is of such 
importance that a special study of this subject is desirable. It is 
difficult, however, to arrive at a satisfactory determination of these 
losses on account of the inflow into the ditches from the drainage 



264 SUKFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAKD PEKINSULA. 

area above them. Storage facilities are not available in this region 
except in the Fairhaven ditch system, and the ditches run at full 
capacity only during periods when the ground is well saturated with 
water from rains or melting snow. The flow of a ditch is augmented 
at such times by the discharge of a number of small streams, which 
contribute volumes of water small in individual amount but rather 
large in the aggregate. The surface flow of these streams is in gen- 
eral too small to measure and does not represent the actual amount of 
water reaching the ditches from them because it does not include the 
underflow through the gravel beds. The side streams are practically 
dry during low-water periods, and the supply at the head of the 
ditches is materially reduced, so that the depth of water running in 
the ditches is lowered. Owing to a reduced wetted perimeter the 
amount of leakage is somewhat smaller for low-water periods, and 
seepage determined under these conditions will not give true values 
for ditches running at full capacity. 

The character of the country over which ditches are built consti- 
tutes the principal element affecting the loss by seepage. A great 
diversity of surface conditions and of formations exists in Seward 
Peninsula, but the method usually followed in building ditches in this 
region results in making the leakage throughout their length fairly 
uniform. The use of sod, as noted on page 258, for liijing portions of 
ditches built around rocky points, over loose rocks, or through decom- 
posed schist, slate, ground ice, and other material unsuitable for ditch 
walls, makes the loss much less than would otherwise be experienced. 
The sod when properly placed becomes covered with silt deposits from 
the water, so that the loss in these sections is probably not much 
greater than that of parts constructed over more favorable ditching 
ground. Ditches built over frozen muck such as is often encountered 
in the northern part of the peninsula ordinarily have small seepage 
losses, for the bottom and sides of the ditches are composed of fine 
sediment backed by solid frozen material that renders them almost 
impervious. 

It is obvious that the percentage of loss by seepage is much greater 
during periods of drought than when the water supply is well sus- 
tained. Consideration of the losses at such intervals is therefore very 
important. The extreme low water experienced during the open 
season of 1909 makes the discharge records of ditches obtained for 
that year especiaUy valuable for this purpose. The data for the Mio- 
cene and Seward ditches have been analyzed to show the amount of 
water lost between stations, and the results are presented below in 
the form of tables. Means for 10-day periods were used in preparing 
the tables in order to eliminate compensating errors in gage readings 



DITCHES. 



265 



and to avoid discrepancies arising from lack of uniformity in flow for 
single days at the various stations. Continuous records were also 
obtained at three points on the Fairhaven ditch in 1909, but the flow 
fluctuated so greatly on account of the frequent breaking of the upper 
ditch that comparisons of records do not give consistent results as 
regards seepage losses. 

Seepage losses of Miocene ditch in 1909. 



Dates (inclusive). 


Station. 


Distance 
between 
stations. 


Distance 

from 
intake. 


Average 

dis- 
charge. 


Loss. 


Loss per 
mile. 


Jirne 23-July 2 

Do 


Black Point 


Miles. 


Miles. 
1.0 

13.0 
1.0 

13.0 
1.0 

13.0 

13.0 

17.1 
1.0 
8.0 

13.0 

13.0 

17.1 
1.0 
8.0 

13.0 
1.0 
8.0 

13.0 
1.0 
8.0 

13.0 
1.0 
8.0 

13.0 
1.0 

13.0 


Sec.-ft. 

26.2 

21.8 

39.9 

28.5 

31.0 

22.6 

37.1 

35.0 

13.0 

10.4 

8.9 

19.9 

17.7 

18.9 

13.5 

11.6 

19.2 

14.6 

13.9 

10.5 

6.3 

4.7 

8.2 

3.4 

2.0 

7.1 

.9 


Sec.-ft. 


Sec.-ft. 


Above Hobson 


12.0 


4.4 


0.37 


July 3-12. 


Black Point 




Do 


Above Hobson 


12.0 


11.4 


.95 


July 13 22 


Black Point 




Do 


Above Hobson 


12.0 


8.4 


.70 


Do 


Below Hobson 




Do 




4.1 


4.3 


1.05 


July23-Aug. 1 

Do 


Black Point 




Clara 


7.0 
5.0 


2.6 
1.5 


.37 


Do 


Above Hobson 


.30 


Do 


Below Hobson 




Do 




4.1 


63.9 


.95 


Aue 2-11 


Black Point 




Do...::::::::': 


Clara 


7.0 
5.0 


5.4 
1.9 


.77 


Do 


Above Hobson 


.38 


Aug. 12-21 


Black Point 




Do 


Clara 


7.0 
5.0 


4.6 

.7 


.66 


Do 


Above Hobson 


. 14 


Aug. 22-31 


Black Point 




Do 


Clara 


7.0 
5.0 


4.2 
1.6 


.60 


Do 




.32 


Sept. 1-10 


Black Point 




Do 


Clara 


7.0 
5.0 


4.8 
1.4 


.69 


Do. 


Above Hobson 


.28 


Sept. 11-19 


Black Point 




Do 


Above Hobson 


12.0 


6.2 


.52 









a The actual difference is increased by 2.2 second-feet, the estimated discharge of the Grouse Creek branch 
for this period. 

b The actual difference is increased by 1.7 second-feet, the estimated discharge of the Grouse Creek branch 
for this period. 



Summary of loss per mile, in second-feet, of Miocene ditch in 1909. 



Between- 


It 

1-^ 


CO'"' 


it 

t-5 


B . 




5^- 






o . 

it 


1^ 


Black Point and Clara 








0.37 
.30 
.95 
.34 


0.77 
.38 


0.66 
.14 


0.60 
.32 


0.69 

.28 





62 


Clara and Hobson. . 








28 


Hobson and point below the flume 






1.05 
.70 


1 00 


Black Point and Hobson.. , 


0.37 


0.95 


.ei 


.44 


.48 


.52 


0.52 


.55 



266 SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

Seepage losses of Seward ditch in 1909. 



Dates (inclusive). 


Station. 


Distance 
between 
stations. 


Distance 

from 

intake. 


Average 
discharge. 


Loss. 


Loss per 
mile. 


June 24r-July 3 

Do 


Intake 


Miles. 


Miles. 

0.0 

7.1 

7.1 

22.6 

32.3 


14.4 
20.0 
12.3 
9.3 


Sec.-ft. 


Sec.-ft. 


Above Hobson branch 


7.1 


3.7 


52 


Do 


Below Hobson branch 




Do 


Dexter Creek . 


is. 5 

9.7 

32.3 


7.7 
3.0 
14.4 


50 


Do 


Newton Gulch 


31 


Do 


Intake to Newton Gulch 

Intake 


45 


July 4- July 13 

Do 


.0 

7.1 

7.1 

22.6 

32.3 


28.0 
23.6 
29.7 
14.8 
11.6 






7.1 


4.4 


62 


Do 


Below Hobson branch 




Do 


Dexter Creek 


15.5 
9.7 
32.3 


14.9 
3.2 
22.5 





Do 


Newton Gulch 


33 


Do 


Intake to Newton Gulch 

Intake 




July 14- July 23 

Do 


.0 

7.1 

7.1 

22.6 

32.3 


11.4 
9.7 

14.7 
8.2 
5.4 






7.1 


1.7 


24 


Do 


Below Hobson branch 




Do 


Dexter Creek 


15.5 

9.7 

32.3 


6.5 
2.8 
11.0 


42 


Do 


Newton Gulch 


29 


Do 


Intake to Newton Gulch 

Intake 


34 


July 24-Aug. 2 

Do 


.0 

7.1 

7.1 

22.6 

32.3 


10.1 
7.3 

10.9 
4.8 
1.1 




Above Hobson branch 


7.1 


2.8 


39 


Do 


Below Hobson branch 




Do 


Dexter Creek 


15.5 
9.7 
32.3 


6.1 
3.7 
12.6 


.39 


Do 




38 


Do 


Intake to Newton Gulch 

Intake 


.39 


Aug. 3-Aug. 12 

Do 


.0 

7.1 

7.1 

22.6 

32.3 


18.3 
13.2 
16.6 
8.3 
6.4 




Above Hobson branch 


7.1 


5.1 


72 


Do 






Do . . 


Dexter Creek . .... 


15.5 

9.7 

32.3 


8.3 
1.9 
15.3 


54 


Do 


Newton Gulch 


.20 


Do 


Intake to Newton Gulch 

Intake 


.47 


Aug. 13-Aug. 22.... 


.0 

7.1 

7.1 

22.6 

32.3 


16.6 
12.3 
15.6 
9.0 
4.5 




Above Hobson branch 


7.1 


4.3 


.61 


Do 






Do . .. 


Dexter Creek 


15.5 
9.7 
32.3 


6.6 
4.5 
15.4 


43 


Do 


Newton Gulch 


.46 


Do 


Intake to Newton Gulch 

Intake 


.48 


Aug. 23-Sept. 1 


.0 

7.1 

7.1 

22.6 

32.3 


15.8 
11.1 
14.2 
9.3 
4.6 




Above Hobson branch 


7.1 


4.7 


.66 


Do 


Below Hobson branch 




Do 


Dexter Creek 


15.5 
9.7 
32.3 


4.9 
4.7 
14.3 


.32 


Do 


Newton Gulch 


.48 


Do 


Intake to Newton Guleh 

Intake 


.44 


Sept. 2-Sept. 11.... 
Do .... 


.0 

7.1 

7.1 

22.6 

32.3 


15.4 
11.4 
14.0 
8.8 
3.5 




Above Hobson branch 


7.1 


4.0 


.56 


Do 


Below Hobson branch .... 




Do 


Dexter Creek 


15.5 
9.7 
32.3 


5.2 
5.3 
14.5 


.34 


Do 


Newton Gulch . ... 


.55 


Do 


Intake to Newton Gulch 

Intake 


.45 


Sept. 12-Sept. 21... 
Do 


.0 

7.1 

7.1 

22.6 

32.3 


16.3 
12.6 
16.5 
10.8 
5.8 




Above Hobson branch 


7.1 


3.7 


.52 


Do 


Below Hobson branch 




Do 


Dexter Creek 


15.5 
9.7 
32.3 


5.7 
5.0 
14.4 


.37 


Do 


Newton Gulch 


.52 


Do 


Intake to Newton Gulch 

Intake 


.45 


sept. 22-Sept.27... 
Do 


.0 

7.1 

7.1 

22.6 

32.3 


22.4 
19.0 
27.6 
18.8 
13.4 




Above Hobson branch 


7.1 


3.4 


.48 


Do 






Do 


Dexter Creek 


15.5 
9.7 
32.3 


8.8 
5.4 
17.6 


.57 


Do 


Newton Gulch 


.56 


Do . . 


Intake to Newton Gulch 


.54 











Summary of loss per mile, in second-feet, of Seward ditch in 1909. 



Between— 


S . 

it 


3^ 


as 

it 


2c- 

*-> 


CO'-' 


Is 

it 












Intake and Hobson branch 

Hobson branch and Dexter Creek . 
Dexter Creek and Newton Gulch. . 
Intake and Newton Gulch 


0.52 
.60 
.31 
.45 


0.62 
""■33' 


0.24 
.42 
.29 
.34 


0.39 
.39 
.38 
.39 


0.72 
.54 
.20 
.47 


0.61 
.43 
.46 
.48 


0.66 
.32 
.48 
.44 


0.56 
.34 
.55 
.45 


0.52 
.37 
.52 
.45 


0.48 
.57 
.56 

.54 


0.53 
.42 
.40 
.44 



DITCHES. 



267 



Measurements were made at several points along the Miocene ditch 
and branches at different times during 1906 to ascertain the loss or 
gain in discharge between specified points. The measurements of 
July 3-4 and July 27 were made during low-water periods, and those 
of September 11-12 when the ditch was carrying considerably more 
water. In 1908 two sets of similar measurements were made along 
the Fairhaven ditch. The first set was taken when the discharge of 
the ditch was small and the second when the supply at the intake was 
fluctuating somewhat, so that neither quite represents normal condi- 
tions. The supply of the Fairhaven ditch is drawn from water stored 
in Imuruk Lake, so that it is possible to keep the ditch running at its 
full capacity irrespective of rain or drought. The following tables 
are included to show the results derived from the measurements along 
the two ditches: 

Seepage measurements of Miocene ditch in 1906. 



Date. 


Point of measurement. 


Distance 
between 
points. 


Distance 
from in- 
take. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gain. 


Loss. 


Loss per 
mile. 


July 3 
Do 


Main ditch. 


Miles. 


Miles. 

0.0 

13.0 

13.0 

13.0 

16.8 

17.1 

26.3 

.0 

1.0 

3.8 

3.8 

13.0 

13.0 


Sec.-ft. 
21.0 
15.8 
20.5 
31.0 
28.1 
29.8 
27.9 
28.0 
25.7 
26.2 
26.0 
23.7 
38.0 

39.7 
36.5 
28.3 
26.3 
29.8 
30.7 
30.3 
30.0 
44.4 

46.8 

43.9 

a 43.0 

45.6 

6.4 

2.5 
1.8 
4.2 

3.9 

5.7 
5.3 


Sec.-ft. 


Sec.-ft. 


Sec.-ft. 


Above Hobson 


13.0 




5.2 


40 


July 4 
Do 


...do 






Below Hobson 




10.5 






Do' 


Above Grouse Creek branch 

Below flume 


3.8 

.3 

9.2 


2.9 


.76 


Do 


1.7 




Do 


Above " X" 


1.9 


.21 


July 27 
Do.. 


Nome River intake 






Black Point 


1.0 

2.8 




2.3 


2.30 


Do 


Above Dorothy 


.5 




Do 


Below Dorothy 


.2 
2.3 




Do 


Above Hobson 


9.2 




95 


Do 




14.3 
1.7 




Do.. 


Below Hobson, plus discharge of 
Grouse Creek branch 








Do 


Below flume 


4.1 


17.1 

17.1 

26.3 

.0 

1.0 

3.8 

13.0 

13.0 


3.2 


.78 


Au,?. 2 
Do 


do.. 






Above "X " 


9.2 




2.0 


.22 


Sept. 11 
Do 


Nome River intake 






Black Point 


1.0 
2.8 
9.2 


.9 






Do 


Above Dorothy 


■.t 


14 


Do 






.03 


Do.. 


Below Hobson 


14.4 
2.4 




Do.. 


Below Hobson,- plus discharge 
of Grouse Creek branch. . 








Do 


Belo w fl ume 


4.1 


17.1 
17.1 
26.3 

.0 

1.8 

.0 

.5 
.0 

1.5 

1.5 
3.2 


2.9 


.71 


Sept. 12 
Do 


. ...do 






Above"X" 


9.2 


2.6 






July 29 
Do 


David Creek branch. 
Intake 






Outlet 


1.8 




.5 


.28 


Sept. 10 
Do.. 
Do 


Jett Creek branch. 

Copper Creek ditch intake 






Copper Creek ditch outlet 

Jett Creek ditch intake 


.5 





.7 


L40 


Do.. 


Jett Creek ditch above Copper 
Creek ditch outlet 


1.5 

1.5 
1.7 




.3 


.20 


Do.. 


Jett Creek ditch below Copper 
Creek ditch outlet 






Do. 


Jett Creek branch outlet 




.4 


.24 









a Estimated. 



268 SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

Seepage measurements of Fairhaven ditch in 1908. 



Date. 



Point of measurement. 



Distance 
between 
points. 



Distance 
from up- 
per in- 
take. 



Dis- 
charge. 



Loss be- 
between 
stations. 



Loss per 
mile. 



July 23 
July 24 

Dc- 

Do.. 
July 25 

Do.. 

Do.. 
Aug. 18 

Do.. 
Aug. 19 

Do.. 
Aug. 20 

Do.. 
Aug. 22 



Intake of upper section. 
Camp 2, upper section.. 
Camp 4, upper section.. 
Intake of lower section . 
Camp 2, lower section . . 

Above Snow Gulch 

Above Penstock 

Intake of upper section. 
Camp 4, upper section.. 
Intake of lower section. 
Camp 2, lower section. . 

Above Snow Gulch 

Above Penstock 

....do 



Miles. 



Miles. 

0. 

4. 
12. 
20. 
27. 
35. 



Sec.-ft. 

12.2 

12.5 

12.2 

12.4 

12.2 

12.0 

a 10. 6 

27.2 

&25.6 

6 25.5 

6 24.4 

6 22.7 

6 22.6 

26.7 



Sec.-ft. 



Sec.-ft. 







0.3 


0.04 


.2 


.03 


.2 


.02 


a. 8 


.20 






.1 


.01 


1.1 


.16 


1.7 


.21 


.1 


.03 



a About 0. 6 second-foot was spilled from the waste-gate below Snow Gulch. 

6 Discharge less than normal; water was turned out of ditch for a few hours Aug. 18 at a point 5 miles 
below upper intaka for the purpose of repairing the ditch. The water again reached a normal stage above 
the penstock on Aug. 22. 

An examination of the tables prepared from the discharge records 
of the Miocene and Seward ditches throughout the extremely dry 
season of 1909 shows mean losses per mile of 0.55 and 0.44 second-foot, 
respectively. The mean value for the Miocene ditch applies only to 
the upper 12 miles between Black Point and Hobson, but that for the 
Seward ditch applies to 32.3 miles of the waterway, or practically its 
entire length. The greatest average loss per mile, 1 second-foot, is 
shown on the Miocene ditch between Hobson and a point below the 
flume for the period July 13 to August 1 and can be accounted for by 
the fact that there is considerable rock construction between the two 
stations. The least mean loss per mile on the Miocene ditch occurred 
between Clara and Hobson and amounted to 0.28 second-foot. The 
mean loss per mile between stations on the Seward ditch apparently 
decreases from the intake to Newton Gulch; that between the intake 
and Hobson was greatest, amounting to 0.53 second-foot. 

There is considerable variation between values for different 10-day 
intervals at the same stations, but they do not show so great a differ- 
ence between fairly wet and extremely dry periods as might be 
expected, inasmuch as there must be some inflow into the ditches 
after rains. The rainfall for the season, however, was very small and 
well distributed as regards time (pp. 25-26), a condition which, in 
connection with the fact that the ground became exceedingly dry 
and required considerable moisture to saturate it, probably accounts 
for the decrease in the loss between stations not being more appar- 
ent after rains. 

A study of the tables embodying the seepage measurements shows 
a decided difference in seepage in ditches in the southern and the 
northern portions of the peninsula. The leakage of the Fairhaven 
ditch, which is built over frozen muck, as mentioned above, is almost 



PLACEE MINING. 269 

negligible, but that of the Miocene and Seward ditches is very appre- 
ciable. The losses along the Miocene ditch during the low water on 
July 3-4 and July 27 are in general larger than those for September 
11-12, when a greater inflow was contributed from side streams. 
Except for short distances, such as between the intake and Black 
Point and on the Copper Creek branch, the greatest losses per mile, 
ranging between 0.71 and 0.78 second-foot for the three sets of meas- 
urements, occurred between Hobson and the flume. These values 
are somewhat smaller than those noted in the analysis of the 1909 
data between the same stations, but this variation may be due to 
the much smaller water supply of the later year. 

PLACER MINING. 

By Alfred H. Brooks. 
SOURCES OF INFORMATION. 

In the foregoing pages the mode of occurrence and distribution of 
the placer gold have been briefly described and all the records bearing 
on stream flow have been presented and discussed. These data 
have been assembled in one volume to make them readily available 
to mining operators and engineers. It also seems desirable to con- 
sider briefly the application of these data to mining practice. To do 
this adequately would far exceed the space here devoted to the subject 
and would necessitate the coUection of much more detailed infor- 
mation than is now available. Moreover, it is a subject properly 
within the field of the mining engineer rather than of the geologist. 
A brief statement of the salient features of the methods of mining 
will, however, at least serve the purposes of the general reader and 
may be not without interest to mining engineers and operators who 
are not familiar with this northern field. Those requiring technical 
details are referred to Purington's report ^ and to the many valuable 
articles which have appeared from time to time in the mining press. 

Purington's report was based on investigations made in 1904, since 
when there has been a notable reduction in operatmg costs, chiefly 
due to cheaper transportation. Nevertheless, as a comparative study 
of Alaska placer-mining methods his publication still forms the stand- 
ard reference work. Since Purington's investigations extensive ditch 
lines have been constructed in the peninsula, and the use of water 
under head has become far more general. Underground mining has 
also become one of the important features of the industry in the 
peninsula. The most important change, however, has come from the 
application of the dredge to mining certain types of deposits. 

1 Purington, C. W., Methods and costs of gravel and placer mining in Alaska: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey- 
No. 263, 1905. This publication is no longer in stock at the Geological Survey, but can be procured for 
35 cents a copy from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. 



270 



SUEFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWAKD PENINSULA. 



The data to be presented in the following pages are largely compiled 
from publications of the Geological Survey and technical journals. 
If this compilation serves no other purpose, it will at lea^t bring 
together m convenient form notes now scattered through many dif- 
ferent volumes, some of which are not readily accessible. Free use 
is here made of notes prepared for this report by Mr. Smith and Mr. 
Henshaw, some of which are quoted verbatim. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 

The writer has already published an account of the history of the 
placer-mining industry ^ in Seward Peninsula, and therefore only its 
most important features are here considered. Although alluvial gold 
is reported to have been discovered on the peninsula as early as 1865, 
there was no placer mining of any consequence until 1897. Gold 
was found on Anvil Creek, near the present site of Nome, on Sep- 
tember 20, 1898, and the first large output from the mines of the 
peninsula was made in the following year. Absolutely reliable sta- 
tistics of gold production are far from^being complete, but the follow- 
ing table gives an estimate of the yearly output based on the best 
data available: 



Production of gold and silver in Seward Peninsula, 189'y-1910. 






Gold. 


Silver. 


Year. 


Fine ounces. 


Value. 


Fine 
ounces. 


Value. 


1897 


725. 63 
3, 628. 12 
135,450.00 
229,781.25 
199,822.61 
220,677.07 
215,994.38 
201,462.52 
232,200.00 
352,812.50 
338,625.00 
247,680.00 
206,077.60 
169,312.50 


$15,000 
75,000 
2,800,000 
4,750,000 
4,130,700 
4,561,800 
4,465,000 
4,164,600 
4,800,000 
7,500,000 
7,000,000 
5,120.000 
4,260,000 
3,500,000 


87 
435 

16,254 
27,574 
24,579 
26,481 
24, 171 
24, 175 
27,864 
43,537 
25,497 
20,577 
20,871 
20,317 


$.52 


1898 


256 


1899 


9 752 


1900 


17,097 


1901 .. 


14, 747 


1902 


14, 035 


1903 


. 13,052 
14, 021 


1904 .. .... . ... 


1905 


16, 997 


1906 


29, 605 


1907 


16, 828 


1908 


10,905 


1909 


10 853 


1910 


10,971 






2,764,249.08 


57, 142, 100 


302,419 


179, 171 



Practically all the gold was taken from placers, although from 1903 
to 1907 the Big Hurrah quartz mine produced some gold, and small 
outputs have been obtained from several lode prospects at different 
times. 

A small amount of silver and lead was produced at the Omilak 
mine, in the Fish River basin, as early as 1881. Since then several 
shipments of ore have been made from this property. The above 
table shows that considerable silver has also been recovered from 

1 Collier, A. J., and others, The gold placers of parts of Seward Poiinsula, Alaska: Bull. U. S. Geo!. Sur* 
vey No. 328, 1908, pp. 10-39. 



PLACER MINING. 



271 



placer gold. The only other mmeral resources that have been devel- 
oped are some coal deposits in the Fairhaven district, which have been 
mined in a small way for local use since 1902, and the York tin de- 
posits, which were first developed in 1900. 

The accompanying diagram {^g. 10) graphically illustrates the 
fluctuations in the annual gold output, which, in turn, reflect the 
history of the mining industry. In 1897 and 1898 there were prob- 
ably less than 200 prospectors and miners on the peninsula, and 
practically all the gold produced was taken from a few claims on 
Ophir Creek. ^ About 2,000 people came to Nome in 1899, attracted 
by the discovery of the previous year. The finding of gold on the 
present beach and the extraction of nearly a million dollars' worth 
in less than two months were the important events of the year. News 
of the wonderful deposits of the Nome beach was widely circulated 



$7,000,000 
$6,000,000 
$5,000,000 
$4,000^000 
$3,000,000 
$2,000,000 
$1,000,000 
n 


















/ 


^.^^^ 
























/ 




\ 






















/ 




\ 










A 


"-^ 


^^ 





~ — -^ 


^.^ 








\ 








/ 
























/ 


























/ 


























/ 

























1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 
Figure 10.— Diagram showing gold production of Seward Peninsula, 1897-1910. 

durmg the following winter and attracted a population of nearly 
20,000 people in the summer of 1900, most of whom, however, left 
before the close of navigation. Beach mining continued during this 
year, and discoveries of creek placers in various parts of the peninsula 
were made. 

From 1901 to 1904 there was little change in the gold output, but 
developments went on steadily in the various districts of the peninsula. 
Ditch and railway building was extensively carried on during this 
epoch. The marked advance in the gold output of 1905 and 1906 
was due to the rich placers developed along the ancient beach lines 
near Nome. More important to the future of the placer-mining 
industry of the peninsula was the successful operating of gold dredges, 
which first took place during this period. 

As bonanzas along the ancient beach lines became exhausted the 
gold output declined. The increased installation of large mining 
plants, especially dredges, has, however, continued, and there is 
good reason to believe that the annual gold production has nearly 
reached its minimum. 



1 About $1,500 worth of gold was extracted from Anvil Creek gravels by the use of a rocker in the later 
part of September, 1898, 



272 SUKFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWAKD PENINSULA. 

COST OF PLACER MINING. 

The general features of the placer-mining industry of Alaska are 
similar to those of other fields, modified more or less by the physical 
conditions of the northern region. A few of these conditions are 
favorable, but mosi of them are unfavorable, and their effect in 
total is to increase the cost of operating. Probably no two engineers 
who are familiar with mining operations in Seward Peninsula would 
agree as to the ratio between the cost of miniQg in this northern field 
and that in the States, and quantitative attempts at comparisons 
are of little value. It is probably safe to state, however, that in 
general placer-mining costs will be 50 to 200 per cent higher in the 
peniasula than in the Western States. The estimated cost of dredg- 
ing can be cited as an example. This form of placer mining is said 
to cost from 3 to 10 cents a cubic yard in California,^ as compared 
with 12 to 25 cents a cubic yard in Seward Peninsula. These costs 
do not include amortization charges or original investment for plant 
and mining property, which would be much higher in Seward 
Peninsula than in California. It will be safe to assume for other forms 
of mining that the unit costs would in general be much higher in 
Seward Peninsula than in California. 

The comparatively high cost of mining in Seward Peninsula is 
directly or indirectly the result of its geographic position. It lies 
about 2,700 statute miles from Seattle its chief source of labor, fuel, 
and supplies, and the cost of transportation is a very considerable tax 
on the mining industry. If this only amounted to the actual cost of 
transporting by water a distance of 2,700 miles it would not add 
greatly to the expense of mining, but an additional charge is involved 
from the fact that the peninsula is open to navigation only from 
about the middle of June to the end of October. As a consequence 
all transportation has to be crowded into some four months. More- 
over, the landing at Nome, where neither harbor nor wharves exist, 
has to be done during fair weather by the aid of lighters at heavy 
expense. These conditions are reflected in the freight rates. In 
the following table the freight rates from Seattle to Nome for the 
year 1910 are given: 

Freight and passenger tariffs, Seattle to Nome, 1910. 

Coal $10 to $12.50 per ton. 

Merchandise 12 to 15 per ton. 

Lumber 14 to 27 per thousand. 

Machinery 15 to 55 per ton. 

Hay 17 to 22 per ton. 

Grain 14 to 17 per ton. 

Horses 60 to 75 per head. 

Passengers, first-class 100 each. 

second class 65 each. 



1 Aubury, L, E., Gold dredging in California: Bull. CaUfornia State Min. Bur. No. 36, 1905. Knox, W. 
M., Less-known gold dredges in California: Min. and Sci. Press, July 2, 1910, pp. 16-18. Janin, Charles, 
Bnd Winston, W. B., Working costs of gold dredging in California: Min. and Sci. Press, July 30, 1910, pp. 
160-151. 



PLACEK MINING. 273 

Ocean freight rates to Nome have been reduced in recent years, but 
not very notably. The reduction has, however, cut the price of coal, 
which in 1904 was from $17 to $30 a ton, to $15 or $20 in 1910. Until 
very recently the cost of crude oil at Nome was $3 a barrel, but at 
present (1911) it is reported to be $2 a barrel. 

The most important reduction in cost of transportation has been 
within the peninsula. Exact figures are not available, but the con- 
struction of several railways ^ and the building of wagon roads have 
materially reduced the cost of transporting supplies from Nome and 
other points on the Bering Sea to inland camps. Brooks^ has 
estimated that in 1909 the average cost of transporting a ton of 
supplies from the coast to mines in different districts of the peninsula 
varied from $80 to $200 in summer and from $3 to $50 in winter, and 
that the average cost for delivering a ton of supplies to the mines 
from the coast Was about $20. It should be remembered, however, 
in considering these figures that a large part of the supplies was 
probably not hauled more than 10 miles. In other words, if the 
inland districts were developed on a large scale the average cost 
would be much higher. 

There are few data on which to generalize regarding the cost of 
wagon and sled transportation in the peninsula. Prices for services, 
teams, and drivers fluctuate from year to year in accordance with 
demand and supply. The cost of haulage also varies according to 
locality. Where wagon roads have been built transportation cost is, 
of course, much less than where none exist. Sledding is possible in 
winter even where no wagon roads have been built, and in dry seasons 
it is possible to haul light loads over the tundra and along some of the 
water courses. During wet seasons, however, the country is practi- 
cally impassable for wagons except along roads. Under present 
conditions it wiU probably not be safe to count the cost of transporta- 
tion at less than $1 per ton-mile. Transportation by railway, where 
available, is least expensive. 

Climate also affects mining costs. Open-cut mining is usually 
possible during less than a third of the year, although lately some 
dredges have been operated for 130 days.^ This means that all plants 
are idle for two-thirds of the year, so that interest and other fixed 
charges must be paid from the returns of four months or less. The 
short working season also affects very considerably the price of labor. 
Each miner who is to be employed during the summer season only 
must be transported to and from the States every year at a cost 
which may add as much as a dollar a day to the cost of his work 

1 lu 1910 there were 124 miles of railway on Seward Peninsula. 

2 Brooks, A. H., The mining industry in 1909: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 442, 1910, p. 25. 

' In 1911 some dredges were operated until the last week in November, which gave a working season of 
160 to 180 days. 

63851^— wsp 314—13 18 



274 SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

during the operating season. This does not hold true, of course, 
of places where winter operations are possible, such as the ancient 
beach placers near Nome, which are now largely mined out. These 
deposits were exploited by drift mining, which in the past was an 
important industry in winter as well as in summer. 

Except for the effect of transportation costs, wages on Seward 
Peninsula are not very different from those paid in many mining 
camps in the West. 

Wages paid on Seward Peninsula have fluctuated so much that no 
definite statement of the wage scale is possible. Many of the men 
employed in summer have been brought from the States under con- 
tract, so that for some large ditch-building enterprises wages have 
been as low as $2.50 a day. The cost of board must be added to all 
these figures on wages. As a rule, however, wages for miners have 
ranged from $4 to $5 a day. There has usually been an abundance 
of labor for underground work in winter During the height of the 
''third beach" mining the winter wages were $4 to $5, but at other 
times they have usually not exceeded $2.50 to $3. Many of the 
dredging crews are brought from California and remain only during 
the open season. A recently published article ^ gives the following 
figures as a safe basis of estimate for the wage scale of a dredging 
crew: Winchman, $5; oiler, $4; fireman, $3.50 to $4; cook, $5. 

In nothing has the reduction been greater than in the cost of food. 
In 1899 the average price for board was $2.50 to $3 a day; it is now 
(1911) probably less than $1.25. The cost of the subsistence of the 
Survey parties which have worked in the southern part of Seward 
Peninsula in the years 1905 to 1908 averaged about 85 cents a man 
a day. This covered the cost of provisions at Nome but did not 
include the cost of transporting them to camp or the wages of the 
cook. Little fresh meat was used, but, on the other hand, all sup- 
plies were bought at retail and the parties averaged only eight men. 
If the wages of the cook had been included, the cost would have 
been about $1.20. 

The conditions of transportation and labor increase materially 
the first cost of mine equipment and hence the operating costs, if 
overhead charges are included. No direct comparisons with the 
States are possible, because costs differ so materially in accordance 
with locality, size of plant, and like factors. *A plant erected near 
Nome will cost much less than one erected in the central part of the 
peninsula, where overland haulage of 25 to 50 miles may be neces- 
sary. Moreover, large plants cost proportionally less than small 
ones. One power plant erected near the beach will serve many 
dredges with less initial expense than if each dredge were operated 
from an independent source of power. 

I Massey, G. B., Dredging coBditions on the Seward Peninsula: Eng. and Min. Jour., Oct. 29, 1910, p. 863. 



PLACEK MINING. 



275 



The stream gradients in Seward Peninsula are for the most part 
low, a condition which affects the cost of certain forms of mining by- 
making available for use under head only a small part of the run-off 
and by necessitating special equipment for the disposal of tailings. 
Dredging and underground mining, of course, are not directly affected. 
The stream gradients of some of the best-known watercourses of 
the peninsula are presented in the following table, which is based 
on data from detailed topographic maps: 

Examples of stream gradients in Seward Peninsula. 



Stream. 



Total dis- 
tance from 
mouth of 

main 
stream. 



Local 
dis- 
tances. 



Average 
fall per 
mile. 



Nome region. 
Nome River: 

Mouth to 100-foot contour 

100-foot contoiu- to Dorothy Creek 

Dorothy Creek to Deep Canyon Creek 

Anvil Creek: 

Mouth to 100-foot contour 

100-foot contour to Nekula Gulch 

Glacier Creek: 

Mouth to 100-foot contour 

100-foot contour to Abbe Gulch 

Dexter Creek: 

Mouth to 100-foot contour 

100-foot contour to Grass Gulch 

Buster Creek: 

Mouth to 100-foot contour 

100-foot contour to Good Luck Gulch 

Solomon River basin. 
Solomon River: 

Mouth to 100-foot contour 

100-foot contour to Montana Creek 

Shovel Creek: 

Mouth to Adams Creek 

Big Hurrah Creek: 

Mouth to Tributary Creek 

Casadepaga Biver basin 
Casadepaga River: 

Mouth to Dawson Creek 

Dawson Creek to Lower Willow Creek 

Lower Willow Creek to Johnson Creek 

Big Four Creek: 

Mouth to Castle Creek 

Castle Creek to Ivanhoe Creek 



Miles. 
19.55 
34.45 
37.85 

2.38 
5.18 

1.6 



1.2 
3.2 



Miles. 
19.55 
14.9 
3.4 

2.38 
2.8 

1.6 
4.2 



1.8 



Feet. 
5.1 
22 
45 

34 

100 

38 

77 

103 
139 



11.0 

18.7 



6.1 
3.5 



6.0 
16.9 
24.2 



1.2 
2.0 



11.0 

7.7 



6.1 
3.5 



6.0 
10.9 
7.3 

5.6 
4.2 



52 
130 



In the above table the gradients of each scream are given from the 
mouth to the highest point at which the average stream volume is 
sufficient to have value for placer mining. During the spring run- 
oft' and during wet seasons water for mining is available at still higher 
altitudes in the upper courses of the streams and on the small tribu- 
taries, which have, of course, steeper gradients. In the Nome region 
the streams usually have small volumes above the 350-foot contour. 
The streams in this district have a fall of about 100 feet to the mile 
between the 100-foot and 350-foot contours. 

Absence of timber except in the eastern part of the peninsula is 
one of the factors contributing to increased cost. Practically aU 
fuel and lumber has to be imported, except in the Council district, 



276 SUKFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA. 

where some spruce is available both for cordwood and for lumber. 
At best, however, the trees are small, and the accessible timber is 
being rapidly depleted. A small coal field, in the Fairhaven district, 
with heavy beds of lignite has been a valuable source of fuel for local 
mining operations. The absence of timber is an advantage in both 
dredge and hydra alio mining, as it obviates the necessity of clearing 
the land before mining is begun. 

Both in the Yukon and in the interior of Alaska permanent ground 
frost is encountered in many places within 2 feet of the surface and 
adds greatly to the difficulty of operating dredges. Fortunately the 
ground is by no means everywhere frozen, but the distribution of the 
ground ice is irregular and is not well understood. Up to the present 
time dredge operators have usually avoided frozen ground, but it 
seems probable that some means may be found to overcome this 
difficulty. The frozen ground is a very great advantage to under- 
ground mining, for it makes timbering and the pumping of seepage 
water unnecessary. 

Mr. Henshaw's discussion of the water resources (pp. 249-255) clearly 
shows that they are inadequate to the needs of the mining industry. 
During wet summers a large amount of water is available, but the 
supply may fail during dry seasons. As a consequence, a mining 
plant which depends on this surplus water may remain idle for 
several successive years, and the expenses of the nonproductive years 
must be charged against the successful seasons. The comparatively 
small supply of water has necessitated the building of long ditches 
(pp. 255-263), which necessarily increase the cost of operations both 
from the additional investment involved and from expense of upkeep. 
These conditions have resulted in the extensive development of 
dredging enterprises, which require little water. 

METHODS. 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION. 

The principal methods of placer mining in use in Seward Peninsula 
are here briefly presented, together with some fragmentary notes on 
unit costs and relative efficiency. Little exact information on mining 
costs in the peninsula is available, because few operators have records 
in such form as to permit determinations of actual unit costs. Most 
of the experienced operators, however, have determined the minimum 
values which can be profitably recovered by any given method of 
mining. This kind of information seldom yields exact data on unit 
costs. Purington's report includes a wealth of cost information, but 
much of it no longer applies because of the changed conditions of 
transportation which have lowered the expense of mining. 

Small mining enterprises are giving way to those requiring large 
investments of capital, so that prospecting is becoming of increasing 



PLACEE MINING. 277 

importance. On this subject the writer has little information, and 
the following extract is quoted from an article by J. P. Hutchins. * 
Certain data no longer applicable have been omitted from the extract. 

PROSPECTING. 
GENERAL CONDITIONS. 

The subject of prospecting will be especially emphasized here, because probably 
three-fourths of the failures in placer mining are due to the fact that the equipment 
has been installed before the ground has been properly tested. Millions of dollars 
have been wasted through this cause, and there is still a lamentable tendency to 
install expensive mining plants with insufficient data as to the real value of the 
property under consideration. Operations of considerable magnitude are at the 
present time being undertaken where the gold content or the working cost per cubic 
yard is not known within 25 per cent of the real figures. 

The popular conception of placer mining is extremely hazy. The mind of one 
who is uninitiated does not readily grasp its complexity. The general idea of a 
placer pictures a volume of material of no particular size, containing a high gold 
content, so rich that mining an inconsiderable amount of it will result in large divi- 
dends. As a matter of fact, such bonanzas are exceptional, and when they are found 
the public has no opportunity to invest, for the richness of the bonanza makes it 
unnecessary to seek outside capital. It may in general be safely concluded that in 
nearly all the enterprises that are presented for public investment comparatively 
low grade material is to be exploited. Such material yields only a small advance 
over the cost of mining. Therefore not only should the value of the metallic content 
be accurately determined by proper prospecting, but all conditions that influence 
operating cost should be carefully investigated. 

The investigation of placer deposits is not a simple matter, particularly when accu- 
rate determination of the gold content and volume of large areas of low-grade material 
must be made. Such investigations should be carried on by one familiar with the 
conditions peculiar to the region. A mining engineer whose work has been done in 
other regions, no matter how capable, efficient, and experienced, is at a great disad- 
vantage in the Far North, where the conditions encountered are in great part unique. 

There are a large number of deposits that can be easily prospected by the average 
miner. Such are the small, rich, shallow placers that lend themselves particularly 
to one-man methods of operation. These can be investigated at a comparatively low 
cost, without expensive apparatus, and as the cost of operation is much less than the 
gold output, refined prospecting and engineering skill are not needed. It is lamen- 
table that failures are being frequently made on such placers, for most of them can be 
easily avoided if a comparatively small amount of careful prospecting is done. 

In lode mining it is usually difficult to determine the valuable content and volume 
of the lode without a large amount of costly excavating. In most placer mines, how- 
ever, modern methods make it cheap to ascertain, within a comparatively small 
margin of uncertainty, the amount of gold in the ground to be exploited. This makes 
placer mining less of a speculation than lode mining, provided the necessary money 
is spent to prospect the ground thoroughly. Unfortunately the public at large is 
slow to realize this fact and the conscienceless or ignorant promoter too often procures 
financial backing for placer-mine equipment where only a most cursory and super- 
ficial examination has been made. 

Proper prospecting involves the determination of the following more important 
factors: (1) Volume of pay alluvium; (2) extent, value, and distribution of pay 
streaks; (3) character of alluvium; (4) its degree of induration; (5) distribution and 

1 Prospecting and mining gold placers in Alaska: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 345, 1908, pp. 56-68. 



278 SUKFACE WATEK SUPPLY OE SEWAED PENINSULA. 

character of bowlders; (6) distribution and character of clay; (7) depth of alluvium; 
(8) depth to ground water; (9) character of bed rock. In addition to these, in Alaska, 
there is the prime necessity of investigating the distribution and character of ground 
frost, both permanent and seasonal. All the above factors influence working cost. 

To obtain information concerning the various factors which have been enumerated 
above as influencing the cost of mining, it is necessary to penetrate the placer deposit 
and thus learn its thickness, condition, and contents. This may be done in one of 
two ways — by drilling a hole through the gravels or by sinking shafts,^ 

By the drilling m,ethod small samples are obtained. Briefly, out of each drill hole 
a cylinder of material about 6 inches in diameter is obtained from grass roots to bed 
rock. A prospecting shaft 3 by 6 feet has a cross-sectional area about 50 times as great 
as that of the drill hole. Thus the volume of material obtained from the shaft is often 
50 times as large as that from the drill hole. As a matter of fact, the usual proportion 
of samples is very much less than this, for often but a small part of the material exca- 
vated from shafts is tested. The writer has seen a sample taken from a shaft 10 by 
10 feet and 20 feet deep that was actually smaller than would have been obtained in 
a drill hole in the same ground. 

PROSPECTING BY CHURN DRILLS. 

The essential features of the drill method of prospecting are sinking a pipe to bed 
rock and extracting and testing the material that is included within the pipe. Drill- 
ing may be done by machinery run by steam or gasoline engines, or by hand alone, 
or by combined hand and animal power. 

POWER DRILLS. 

The steam and gasoline drills are essentially alike in operation and equipment. 
Inasmuch as the gasoline engine is more delicate, less reliable, and less flexible in 
operation than the steam engine,^ it is from these considerations alone inferior, although 
it may, on account of difficulty of transporting fuel and supplies, be preferable in some 
places. 

The actual drilling with a power churn drill involves three operations: (1) Driving 
a pipe to obtain a core, (2) drilling this core to prepare it for pumping, and (3) pump- 
ing and hoisting this drilled material from the pipe and discharging it into a receptacle 
for testing. Each of these operations requires changes of tools and manipulation, and 
they are continued until the hole is finished. First, a heavy 6-inch pipe (weighing 
20 pounds or more per foot) is driven into the ground 1 foot at a time by striking it on 
the upper end with a pair of driving clamps. These are clamped to the stem of the 
drill, which hangs inside the pipe from a cable sustained on the derrick of the drill 
by which the driving is being done. The drills, stem, etc., weigh about 1,000 pounds 
and strike about 55 blows per minute, raising and dropping the tool about 3 feet at 
each blow, though the length of blow can be adjusted to 18, 24, or 36 inches. It is 
obvious that a heavy blow can be struck and that the pipe must be strong and well 
prepared for such hard usage. A drive shoe is screwed to the bottom of the pipe. 
This is extra heavy and of metal sufficiently tough to penetrate gravel. A driving 
head is screwed to the top of the pipe to take the blows delivered by the driving 
clamps. 

The cable can be reeled in or out while the driving or drilling or pulling is being 
carried on. After the pipe has been driven a foot or so, the driving clamps are removed 
and the core is drilled within a few inches of the bottom of the pipe. The drill is a 

» For convenience of treatment all openings that permit the entrance of a man, such as vertical shafts, 
Inclined shafts, drifts, upraises, winzes, vertical, inclined, and horizontal cuts, are included under the 
head of shafts. 

» Since this was written the gasoline engine has been so improved and is now in such universal use that 
fhe above statement no longer holds true.— A. H. B. 



PLACER MINING. 279 

chisel-shaped tool. Its action is to crush rather than to cut, and it breaks hard mate- 
rial, which is generally brittle, at a rapid rate — 1 foot in 3 to 10 minutes in 
medium-sized loose to coarse indurated gravel. When the core has been drilled, it 
is pumped from the pipe. The vacuum pump, hanging on a different cable from that 
of the drill, has a length of about 8 feet and an inside diameter of about 4^ inches. 
A piston operates inside the barrel of the pump in the following manner: The pump 
is sustained by a rope attached to the piston at the upper end. When the pump is 
hanging on this rope, the piston is against a stop in the upper end of the pump barrel. 
In using the pump it is dropped suddenly into the pipe and slack line is allowed to 
pay out. The piston thus drops to the lower end of the pump barrel. The slack rope 
is reeled in rapidly, the phmger in sliding up inside the pump baiTel creates a partial 
vacuum, and material is thus sucked in through the bottom of the pump and held 
by a plain flap or clack valve. When the piston strikes the stop at the upper end of 
the pump barrel, the pump is picked up and then hoisted from the pipe with its con- 
tent of water and drilled material. There is an opening in the side of the pump barrel 
near the top, at such a height that the piston passes above it as it is hoisted to its stop. 
The pump is then emptied into a receptacle through this opening. 

The methods of separating the gold from the materials obtained by drilling will not 
be discussed here in detail. Ordinarily the sample is panned or rocked, the various 
characters of the alluvium are observed and noted, the metallic content is saved and 
weighed, and the average value per cubic yard of the alluvium is calculated. 

After the hole is finished the pipe is withdrawn from the ground by pulling. A pull- 
ing head is screwed to the top of the pipe, being so arranged that as the drill cable 18 
alternately shortened and lengthened an upward blow is struck by the pulling ham- 
mer, which works inside the pipe. A blow almost if not quite as strong as that given 
in driving is thus obtained and the pipe is pulled from the ground. This is the hardest 
work the drill has to do and most of the breakages occur during this operation. Under 
average conditions, about 10 to 20 feet per day of 10 hours can be drilled in this way. 
* * * 

A frozen condition of the alluvium makes peculiar operation necessary. Sinking 
with a drive pipe in frozen ground is often conducted by drilling about 8 to 10 inches 
below the drive shoe, driving for 12 inches, and then pumping. As it is difficult to 
drive in frozen ground an extra heavy pipe must be used; water heated by live steam 
from the boiler is kept in the drive pipe to prevent its freezing solidly in the ground. 
The pulling of the drive pipe from frozen ground is difficult and chain blocks are often 
used. 

Frozen ground is frequently drilled by steam drills without using a drive pipe. 
Such procedure is justifiable only when the drilling is merely to locate a channel. 
It is not good practice to drill without a drive pipe if acciu*ate determination of the gold 
content is to be made, as material is sloughed off the sides of the drill hole by the water 
thrown into the hole during the drilling, and thus inaccurate sampling is done. * * * 
As much as 75 feet is said to have been drilled in 10 hours. 

HAND DRILLS. 

The hand-drilling outfit consists of a casing (lighter than drive pipe) with a toothed 
cutting shoe screwed to the lower end. A platform is placed on top of the casing and 
men standing on the platform operate one of a variety of tools inside the casing, alter- 
nately raising and dropping the tool as in churn drilling. At the same time other men 
rotate the casing by means of poles attached to the platform, or a horse harnessed to a 
sweep. The casing with its cutting shoe, by its own weight and that of the platform 
and men standing on it, cuts into the ground, there being but little friction to over- 
come, as it is kept loose by rotation. A tool which drills and pumps material into its 
barrel simultaneously is generally used. Thus the casing is sunk and the material is 



280 SUEFACE WATEK SUPPLY OE SEWAED PENINSULA. 

drilled and pumped at one operation, with the same result that is obtained in the three 
operations of the power drill. Several kinds of pumps are used, equipped with ball 
or flap valves. The pump fits the casing and as the pump is dropped it causes a rush 
of water into the barrel from below, the drilled material being carried into the barrel 
and held there by the ball valve. 

The casing is pulled from the ground by leverage; a pole 25 feet or more long can be 
used. As a matter of fact, it is seldom necessary to use much force, for the casing is 
rotated while being pulled and it is customary to pull it at the rate of 30 feet or more 
per hour. It is obvious that there will be less wear, tear, and breakage while using 
this device than with a steam churn drill. The means of sinking and withdrawing the 
pipe are easy and effective and they subject the pipe to much less severe usage; 
moreover, the process is more rapid. The hand churn drill is essentially a combina- 
tion core and percussion drill. The cutting shoe obtains the core like a core drill, 
partly preparing it for drilling and pumping, while the tool works simultaneously by 
percussion on the core and as a pump. 

This type of hand drill is well suited to prospecting in Alaska. When equipped to 
drill 30 feet deep the whole outfit weighs about 1,000 pounds It makes up into one- 
man packs with a maximum weight of less than 75 pounds each, and so is particularly 
advantageous in inaccessible districts. It will sink from 20 to 40 feet of 5-inch hole 
through medium-size gravel in 10 hours if not working at too great a depth. It does 
not work at depths of more than 75 feet without a spring pole or other device to help 
support the weight of the rod and tool. It requires 5 to 7 men or 5 men and 1 horse to 
run it, depending on the depth being drilled and the method of rotating the casing. 

A more recent note on the use of the hand drill has been published 
by Henshaw.^ The following extract is quoted from his report: 

In 1908 the Wild Goose Mining & Trading Co. began the systematic development of 
its extensive properties on Ophir Creek. During the last two seasons the ground has 
been thoroughly prospected, mostly with the hand drill. The stream bed of Ophir 
Creek lends itself readily to the use of this machine. The gravels are of moderate 
depth, 8 to 15 feet as a rule, unfrozen, and contain no large rocks. A relatively light 
5-inch drill was used, which could be operated by three men. It consisted primarily 
of a tripod, carrying a pulley, through which was passed a rope, to one end of which is 
attached the drilling tool and to the other the pump. The casing is driven by the 
impact of a rammer and not rotated except in pulling. It thus differs somewhat from 
the hand drill as described by Hutchins,^ being lighter and simpler. A steam-power 
drill was first used for this .work, but was given up in favor of the hand machine. In 
some parts of Ophir Creek, where the flow sinks into the bedrock at low water, shafts 
were used instead of drill holes, as the lack of water is an advantage in sinking them, 
while it practically prevents the use of the drill. 

The following extract is a continuation of the quotation from 
HutchiQs: 

COMPAEATIVB MERITS OP POWER AND HAND DRILLS. 

Both of these drills have merits in their application to prospecting in Alaska. 
Rapidity, cost, and acciu-acy are the three prime considerations in any drill test. 

The churn drill, operated by steam, works more rapidly when actually drilling, and 
so is well adapted to deep ground where moves are infrequent. Where there are 
many moves to be made, as in drilling shallow alluvium, particularly where the 

1 Henshaw, F. F., Mining in Seward Peninsiila: Bull, U. S. Geol. Survey No. 442, 1910, p. 361. 
8 Hutchins, J. P., Prospecting and mining gold placers in Alaska: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 845, 
1908, p. 61. 



PLACER MINIKG. 281 

surface is rough or swampy, the hand churn drill, because of its mobility, will often 
drill a greater number of feet in a given time than the steam chum drill. The hand 
drill, however, will not penetrate as large bowlders as will the steam drill. 

The cost of operation per day of a hand chum drill in Alaska will be generally less 
than that for a steam churn drill and the expense for wear and tear and breakage is 
very much less.^ There is very little lost time for breakage when using the hand 
drni. 

The more inaccessible the deposit under investigation the greater will be the 
advantage in favor of the hand churn drill in operatiug cost. 

The first cost of the hand chum drill at the factory is less than one-half that for 
the steam churn drill. Moreover, freight charges are much greater on the steam drill, 
which weighs with its equipment ten to fifteen times as much as the hand drill. 
Transportation iuto inaccessible districts in Alaska is very costly, and a steam drill 
at its destiuation may cost several times its factory price. 

The core obtained by the hand churn drill with rotated casing is probably more 
nearly representative of the material being sampled than that obtained by driving 
the pipe of a steam drill. The hand drill needs but infrequent driving to sink the 
casing, and as the driving is done while the casing is being rotated it has a maximum 
effect and therefore less is required. 

It may be said in general that where the deposit to be investigated is deep and 
accessible to supplies and machine shops and the surface is not very swampy the 
steam chum drill will do the cheaper and more rapid work; where the ground is 
shallow, swampy, or inaccessible the hand churn drill will give better results. Even 
if the hand drill were more costly to operate per day or per foot, it would still be a 
better and cheaper device for prospecting inaccessible areas where the expense for 
transportation, renewals, and repairs is very high. 

SAMPLING. 

The prime object of the drilling method in testing placer ground is to obtain a 
sample, which is a cylinder of material of a known diameter from the grass roots down 
to and into bedrock as far as ore ^ is found. A pipe is used to penetrate the deposit 
ahead of the drilling and pumping tools, being kept far enough in advance so that 
only the material subtended by the shoe on the pipe will be included in the core. 
The main essential of any sampling with a drill is to get only the material that is 
properly the core, neither more nor less. The whole operation must be conducted 
with this feature in mind, and all else should be sacrificed to attain accuracy in this 
respect. Any phase of operation that results in getting too much or too little core 
material introduces errors. The ratio of the volume of a sample from a drill hole to 
the volume of the material represented by the sample is about 1 to 100,000 when one 
drill hole per acre is sunk. Any errors are thus largely magnified in the calculations 
of average gold tenor. In sampling a lode the ratio of the volume of the sample to 
that of the lode is often 1 to 5,000. 

Suppose that the drill operation is being conducted in 50-foot ground. Then the 
volume of the sample will be about one-third cubic yard, or about 50 pans of material. 
If the drilling is so done that each of 45 of these pans contains 1 milligram of gold, 
worth 0.06 cent, which ran in from outside the pipe and does not belong to the core, 
and if the other 5 pans of material indicate a gold tenor of 10 cents per cubic yard 
and this is the true average for the sample, then the apparent gold content will be 
18 cents per cubic yard. If this hole were supposed to test an acre, it would indicate 
a gross gold content of $14,520, instead of $8,067, the true figure. This error results 

> The writer has used this drill where there were no blacksmith shops. A grindstone and files were used 
to sharpen tools when necessary, and this was not frequent. 
« Ore in its mining sense is material that has a valuable content sufficient to make it profitable to work It. 



282 SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 

by obtaining an excess of gold of a total value less than 3 cents in a drill hole 50 feet 
deep. Thua a small error in testing ground may lead to a very large error in esti- 
mating the value when calculations are made. Such errors have been made in 
actual practice. 

"^Tien large bowlders are encountered while prospecting with either steam or hand 
drills, it is necessary to drill below the pipe before it can be sunk. When this is 
necessary the pipe should be sunk through the drilled material before pumping is 
done, to insure against obtaining material not properly a part of the core. 

DRILLING SEASON. 

Prospecting by drilling can be done at all times of the year, even in winter. Areas 
that are marshy in summer can be more easily tested with a steam drill in winter, 
for then the surface is frozen and the heavy drill can be moved without miring. It 
is easier to drill a stream bed from the ice when the stream is frozen than to test it 
with the steam drill from a scow. 

Seasonal frost interferes with drilling in winter, but ground permanently frozen 
can be drilled in winter as rapidly as in summer. Very cold weather is liable to 
cause inaccuracies in handling material from the pipe. A small tent warmed with 
a stove affords shelter for the panner and should be used. 

RELIABILITY OP DATA PROCURED BY DRILLING. 

If extensive work has been done in Alaska at any place where exploitation was 
preceded by close drilling, the information obtained, so far as the writer knows, has 
not been published, and therefore figures comparing prospecting and operating results 
in that Territory can not be given. It is possible, however, to give some data of value 
from other regions where drill holes have been checked by subsequent exploitation. 
In regions where ground has been tested by close and systematic drilling, the results 
of extensive subsequent mining have shown the reliability of this method of pros- 
pecting. A great amount of care must be exercised in any prospecting of alluvium 
in Alaska. Gold occurs generally in extremely irregular pay streaks. Any pros- 
pecting, to be reliable, must be of such scope as to delineate these pay streaks and 
to determine their bearing on the average gold content of the total volume of alluvium 
under investigation. 

When the drill method is used to locate bonanzas and not to make a fair test of 
large areas of low-grade alluvium, the results give false averages. When prospecting 
with drills is properly done the results are reliable. Accuracy, however, has been 
sacrificed to speed in many tests, as where the drilling has been done without a pipe. 
The drill method has been badly abused and much of the information so acquired 
will prove unreliable; but there is no reason why drill prospecting should not be as 
trustworthy in Alaska as in the States, where results attained by well-conducted 
drilling are accepted without question. 

PROSPECTING BY SHAFT. 

Shaft prospecting consists in making openings of such size as permit a personal 
inspection of the alluvium. Under this general head will be included, for conven- 
ience, shafts, inclines, winzes, upraises, drifts, and horizontal, vertical, or inclined 
open cuts. The advantage of shaft prospecting is obviously that it permits a close 
inspection of the alluvium and the obtaining of large samples. Any peculiarities of 
the alluvium and bedrock can be examined in detail. Large samples tend to compen- 
sate for irregularities in the distribution of the metallic content and thus are more likely 
to indicate a true average of the material being tested. The material excavated from 
the openings is panned, rocked, or sluiced, and its metallic content is saved. 



PLACER MINING. 283 

The reliability of the shaft method of prospecting is treated below. Some incon- 
gruous work has been done by the advocates of shaft prospecting, many of whom 
claim that it is a far superior method to that of drilling. They have sunk shafts 
and other openings of considerable size and then merely panned a very small 
proportion of the excavated material. The samples so panned were taken with 
little regard to the requirements for obtaining a fair average, and in a generally 
imsystematic and irregular way. Such inconsistencies are often seen and the 
advantage possible in getting large samples by shaft prospecting may be entirely lost 
by careless sampling of the excavated material. 

CHOICE OF PROSPECTING METHOD. 

Without regard to the geology, all Alaskan placers may be classified as shallow or 
deep. For convenience of consideration in this paper, all placers less than 25 feet 
deep are arbitrarily called shallow. Such placers, at or near sea level, if so wet as to 
require pumping, can be investigated with shafts while the pump is set on the surface 
of the ground. The practical limit of suction at sea level is about 25 feet. Placers 
deeper than 25 feet or of less depth and at higher altitude, if wet, must be drained by 
sinking pumps to the necessary depth. This necessitates a larger shaft to accommodate 
the pump, pipes, etc., and obviously will increase the cost per foot. 

The choice of prospecting method is governed by a number of considerations, some 
of which are influenced by conditions foreign to the actual prospecting. For instance, 
a deposit well adapted to investigation by the steam drill may be so inaccessible as to 
make it good practice to use hand drills or shafts instead. The rapidity, cost, and 
accuracy are the governing factors in making a choice of method. Many deposits 
have features that make one method particularly applicable. In some places condi- 
tions are such that either the shaft or the drill method may be employed with equally 
good results; both may be used advantageously. The frozen condition of many of the 
Alaskan placers makes it possible to use the shaft method in alluvium which, if 
unfrozen, could be tested by shafts only at a large cost for pumping and timbering. 

Where shallow narrow creek beds are to be prospected it is often good practice to 
make open cuts clear across the bed, or far enough to delimit the pay streak. Such 
creeks generally have extremely irregular pay streaks, and cuts of this character would 
determine the distribution of gold content with thoroughness. Work like this may be 
costly, but the compensating advantages often justify it. 

In a shallower placer less than 10 feet deep and containing no water, or so little water 
that it can be easily bailed, prospecting can generally be more cheaply and rapidly 
done with shafts or open cuts than with drill holes sunk with a steam chum drill. 
Material can be thrown out of a shaft 10 feet deep and no timbering is ordinarily 
required if the shaft is kept free of water during the sinking. Only one man per shaft 
is required if there is only a small amount of bailing and if the gravel is unfrozen and 
easily broken down. * * *. Under such conditions the steam churn drill is at a 
disadvantage, for much time may be consumed in frequent moving from hole to hole. 
This is particularly true if the surface is so rough or marshy as to make moving difficult. 
The hand drill, being mobile, can be used advantageously in such shallow gravelS) 
where it can generally drill 25 to 40 feet or more per day * * *. 

If the alluvium to be tested has a depth of about 25 feet and is so wet as to require a 
steam pump, drill methods are more applicable than shafts. Such unfrozen gravel is 
generally loose or becomes loose on exposure to the air or by reason of water running 
into the shaft. Shaft sinking will be slow and costly, as close timbering and breast 
boarding or sheet piling may be necessary. Samples taken under such conditions 
are likely to be inaccurate, for running ground may enter the shaft. The fact that the 
material from the shaft is shoveled under water, possibly from a rough bedrock or 
from a soft bedrock, which may become sticky by reason of the man puddling it as he 



284 SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 

works, also introduces inaccuracies. Such conditions are not exceptional; on the 
contrary, they are generally encountered in prospecting the loose, low-lying gravels of 
stream beds. When greater depths are attempted in such ground, the same difficulties 
are encountered in greater degree; the cost of the work may be prohibitive and the 
samples so unreliable as to be worthless. Under such conditions the churn drill 
method is preferable. The circumstances that cause slow and costly progress and inac- 
curate sampling with shafts have no bad effect on steam or hand chimi drills. In 
general, where the gravel is dry, as accurate or more accurate sampling can be done 
with shafts as with drill holes, but the presence of water in such volume as to require 
pumping makes drilling preferable. 

It is often good practice to use both drill holes and shafts, the idea being to use only 
enough shafts to allow inspection of the physical character of the gravel, bedrock, etc., 
and to depend on the drill holes for the determination of the tenor, extent, and thick- 
ness of the gravel. If a certain sum is allotted for an examination, this sum will 
generally, on account of the greater cost of shaft prospecting in wet gravel, pay for the 
sinking of fewer shafts than drill holes. It is a question whether it is better to have a 
few large samples or many small samples from a deposit. The peculiar conditions of 
the alluvium under consideration must therefore be the determining factor. 

The irregularity of gold distribution in the alluvium of Alaska makes careful pros- 
pecting necessary in order to determine the limits of the pay streaks. Many samples 
may thus be needed. As a general rule, drill holes are better suited to this work, for 
they can ordinarily be sunk more rapidly and more cheaply. 

Where bench gravel is to be tested, cuts can be easily made. Vertical sampling is 
thus done, and this method has been used with good results. It is assumed that gravel 
in the same stratum or at the same perpendicular height above bedrock has the same 
general tenor and characteristics. 

Prospecting has so far in this paper been treated as the obtaining of samples merely. 
Sometimes it may be conducted as a working test. This is particularly applicable 
where there is an available water supply. Thus cuts may be ground-sluiced through 
bench gravel and considerable amounts of material washed. Such cuts also permit 
subsequent sampling of the gravel section to good advantage. Inasmuch as this is a 
working test, data relative to operating cost may thus also be obtained. 

A governing factor in the choice of the prospecting method is the kind of information 
that is required. Thus in testing alluvium thought suitable for hydraulicking, infor- 
mation concerning the section of gravel from grass roots to bedrock is desired, and gen- 
erally this can best be obtained by sinking shafts or drill holes. In testing alluvium 
for drift mining little information is required in regard to any part of the gravel section 
except that adjacent to bedrock. Openings that follow this lower stratum will, of 
course, give a maximum of information with a minimum of excavation. 

The last few years have witnessed many changes in the attitude 
of mine operators of Seward Peninsula toward systematic prospecting. 
Formerly prospecting was carried on for the most part incidentally 
to some development work and almost no attempt was made to 
evaluate the alluvium before installing mining plants; but now most 
of the large companies carry on systematic determinations of the 
character, dimensions, and gold content of the alluvium before 
installing mine equipment. Such procedure, always essential if 
success is to be assured, is especially important to dredging enter- 
prises, which must be based on exact knowledge of amount of gold- 
bearing alluvium, distribution of values and of permanent ground 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 314 PLATE IX 




A. MINING WITH ROCKER ON BEACH AT BLUFF, 1900. 




B. USING LONG TOM NEAR NOME, 



PLACER MINING. 285 

frost, and character of bedrock. With the prospecting methods 
now in use, the element of chance should be very largely eliminated 
from this form of mining. 

MINING. 
GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 

The general principles of placer mining are very simple and will 
probably require no explanation to those who may have occasion 
to consult this volume. They consist of excavating the gold-bearing 
alluvium either by hand, by mechanical means, or by the aid of 
water under head, transporting the auriferous material to the sluice 
boxes, which can be accomplished by hand, by various mechanical 
devices using horses or steam power, or by the aid of water under 
head, and separating the gold from the dross in the sluice box, which 
requires water under head. The average grade of sluice boxes is a 
fall of 6 inches to 12 feet, or 220 feet to the mile. In hydraulic 
miniQg and in the use of scrapers, steam shovels, and dredges the 
excavating of the material and its transportation to sluice boxes is 
performed by one operation. 

The Seward Penuisula placer-mining industry had its beginnings 
in the simplest form of mining with pick, shovel, and rocker, and 
from this stage it has passed gradually to operations requiring exten- 
sive equipment and large investments. The change from the simple 
to complex methods, however, has by no means been universal. 
A visitor to Nome can at almost any time see men miniag and sepa- 
rating the gold from the beach or bar diggings with shovel and rocker 
(PL IX, A), while close at hand a dredge of the latest design (PI. XVI), 
with a crew of a few men, is handling from 500 to 1,000 times as 
much gravel as the individual prospector. Many creek placers which 
annually yield gold are worked by hand, as were all the claims a 
dozen years ago. The most efficient method varies with the locality. 
A shallow creek placer of small areal extent and with a small amount 
of water, which may possibly be available during only a part of the 
season, can often be worked at a profit by the simpler methods, requir- 
ing no investment of capital, when a large mining plant on the same 
ground would be operated at a loss. With the rapid exhaustion of 
the bonanza deposits, however, the larger plants, which can profitably 
handle ground of low values, must be relied upon to maintain the 
annual gold output. 

ROCKER AND LONG TOM. 

The simplest appliance for mining and recovering gold from allu- 
vium, which has been extensively used on Seward Peninsula, is the 
rocker. This mechanical device, which is illustrated in Plate IX, A, 



286 



SUEFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENI:N^SULA. 



and figure 11, is so simple and well known that it needs no description. 
Its most extensive use was during the height of the beach mining near 
Nome in 1899, when more than a thousand people employed this 
simple device, and with its aid extracted nearly a million dollars' 
worth of gold in less than two months. It is needless to say that 
these conditions have long passed, and the use of the rocker is now 
largely confined to a few beach miners. For extracting gold from 
very rich and shallow placers the rocker is an effective instrument 
but much of the fine gold is lost in its use. Purington ^ estimates 
that two men can handle from 3 to 5 cubic yards of gravel with one 
rocker in a day of 10 hours. 

The long tom (PL IX, B) is a device which had its origin in New 
Zealand beach mining. It is in effect a small sluice box with a 
grizzly at the top, as in a rocker. It is only a little more effective than 
the rocker, and its use at Nome was confined to the period of beach 

mining in 1899 and 1900. 

OPEN-CUT MINING. 

Open-cut mining prop- 
erly embraces all ordinary 
mining operations except 
drifting, including dredg- 
ing and hydraulicking, but 
these will be discussed un- 
der separate headings. In 
its simplest form such min- 
ing requires no equipment except pick, shovel, and sluice boxes, 
and no power except that of the water passing through the sluice 
boxes. (See PL X, J..) It is well adapted to rich, shallow gravels not 
more than 7 feet in depth, where the grade of the stream is sufficient 
for the sluice boxes and where the pit can be drained by a bedrock 
flume. The daily duty in this form of mining is probably from 5 to 8 
cubic yards to the man. If the average, is 6 cubic yards and the 
average price of labor is $5 a man, it will be evident that the handling 
of the gravel alone will cost 83 cents a cubic yard. To this must be 
added the cost of dead work and of the water supply. It is probable 
that there has been little profitable mining of this character where 
the value of the gold content was less than $2 a cubic yard. For the 
most part, the yield would probably be $3 or $4. Purington ^ states 
that the average cost of 10 plants which he investigated in Seward 
Peninsula in 1904^ was $1.87 a cubic yard. Such a general state- 
ment, however, is apt to be found in error when applied to an indi- 

1 Purington, C. W., Methods and costs of gravel and placer mining in Alaska: Bull. XJ. S. Geol. Survey 
No. 263, 1905, p. 56. 

2 Op. cit., p. 38. 

3 In 1904 wages in Seward Peninsula were $5 a day and board, amounting to $6 or $7 a day. 




Figure 11.— A Klondike rocker. 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 314 PLATE X 




A. OPEN-CUT MINING ON BENCH OF GLACIER CREEK. 



,. 


■■^^^■■^ 












m .,.-^^'3| 









B. GROUND-SLUICING ON GLACIER CREEK. 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 314 PLATE XI 




A. GROUND-SLUICING WITH HYDRAULIC GIANT ON ANVIL CREEK. 




B. MINING WITH HORSE SCRAPERS ON GOLDBOTTOM CREEK. 



PLACEE MINING. 287 

vidual mine. For example, the management of one mine on Seward 
Peninsula reports that its average cost per cubic yard, using pick and 
shovel, was less than 50 cents. 

Deeper ground may require two handlings of gravel before it 
reaches the sluice boxes by use of either a platform or a wheelbarrow. 
The result is to decrease the duty per man and to increase the cost of 
mining. In the absence of bedrock drain a pump may have to be 
used to get rid of seepage water, and this will also increase the cost. 
Where water is available and the stream gradient permits, the over- 
burden can be groundsluiced off, thus reducing the amount of mate- 
rial handled with shovels. (See Pis. X, 5, and XI, ^.) That part of the 
overburden which is made up of humus and silt yields readily to a 
stream of water. The land is sometimes plowed before water is 
turned on. The absence of timber in the peninsula does away with 
the necessity of clearing the land before ground sluicing. 

Various mechanical devices are used to supplement manual labor 
in open-cut mining. One of the simplest of these is the horse scraper, 
which may be used not only for excavating but also for transporting 
the gravels to the sluice boxes. (See PL XI, B.) Scrapers operated by 
steam or gasoline engines are also in extensive use, and the equipment 
can be installed without much expense. Both are effective where 
the ground to be mined is not too deep. In many places the combi- 
nation of groundsluicing to reduce the bulk of the gravel with the 
use of horse or steam scrapers is economical and effective. Puring- 
ton ^ has estimated that two horses and a driver can excavate and 
transport 75 feet to sluice boxes 30 to 40 cubic yards a day, an amount 
of work equivalent to the duty of 6 to 10 men. The capacity of a 
steam scraper is much larger and is estimated at 700 to 1,000 cubic 
yards a day. 

The drag-line or bucket-scraper excavator has, so far as known to 
the writer, not been used in Alaska. The original cost of these 
machines is small compared with dredges, and they are, moreover, so 
light as to make their transportation possible to localities where the 
cost of transporting a dredge would be prohibitive. Several descrip- 
tions of the operating of these machines have been published in tech- 
nical journals.^ The most complete account of the application of 
this new excavator to placer mining which has come to the notice of 
the writer is one published by Hutchins.^ As this machine seems 
destined to play a part in the mining industry of Seward Peninsula, 
the following statement is quoted from Hutchins's article: 

The drag-line excavator is a comparatively new machine and was evolved in the 
course of excavating ditches and canals in the vicinity of Chicago. It consists of a 

» Purington, C. W., op. cit., p. 60. 

* Bucket scraper for use In placer mining: Min. and Sci. Press, July 9, 1910, p. 43. Scraper bucket 
excavator in placer mining: Eng. and Min. Jour., Aug. 13, 1910, p. 316. Talbot, F. A., A new type of 
giant excavator: Eng. and Min. Jour., Sept. 17, 1910, p. 564, 

« Hutchins, J. P., The drag-line excavator: Min. Mag., vol. 3, November, 1910, pp. 359-362. 



288 SUKFACE WATEB SUPPLY OF SEWAKD PENIITSULA. 

car mounted upon wheels or rollers with a crane up to 100 feet in length. This crane 
can be raised or lowered by hand or power, thereby regulating the height of the dump. 
On the end of the car opposite to the crane there is a boiler working at about 110 
pounds. This acts as a counterweight to the crane. The engine, about 10 by 12 
inches, is geared to two drums, which are operated by friction clutches actuated by 
steam, compressed air, or by hand. These drums are geared so that one gives slow 
speed and heavy pull to the drag line while the other works the hoist line at faster 
speed. Two ropes lead from the two drums, namely, the hoist line to the end of the 
crane over a sheave and to a bucket and the drag line, through two "padlock " sheaves 
on the end of the car to a chain bridle on the bucket. The bucket may have a capacity 
up to 3 cubic yards. There is a sheave on the bail of the bucket and a short compen- 
sating rope that runs from the forward or digging end of the bucket over this sheave 
and out to the drag line. A swinging engine works through a rack and pinion to 
rotate the machine through a complete circle or operates through cables like the bull 
wheel of the swinging device of a derrick. In the latter case the crane can not swing 
through 360 degrees. 

The operation is as follows: By means of the brake of the hoist-line drum the bucket 
is lowered into the material to be excavated. The drag-line friction is thrown in and 
the engine started. The bucket is thus dragged toward the car and it fills exactly as 
a scraper does. Since the l|-cubic-yard bucket weighs 3,700 pounds and can be 
tilted by braking on the hoist-line drum and so tilting the digging teeth into the mate- 
rial, it excavates at a rapid rate even though digging 35 feet or more below the track 
upon which the car is sustained. 

When the bucket is full the friction clutch is disengaged from the drag-line drum 
and engages the hoist drum; the bucket is hoisted, the brake being kept on the drag- 
line drum slightly so as to keep the compensating line taut. By keeping this line taut 
the bucket is maintained in an approximately horizontal position and the excavated 
material does not fall out of it. The bucket is hoisted and swung simultaneously to 
the dumpiQg point; then the brake is released from the drag-line drum and the bucket 
immediately takes a vertical position, because it is articulated to the bale near the end 
opposite to the teeth, and the weight of the digging end plus the material in it make 
the bucket assume a vertical position. Thus a rapid discharge ensues. 

This is the simplest type of bucket, and being easily described it has been selected 
from several for illustrating the working of the drag-line excavator buckets in general. 
There are others with devices that give more or less freedom of loading and dumping, 
besides extending or limitiag the radius of dumping. 

The bucket above described can only be dumped at a point directly under the end 
of the crane. A drag-line excavator with a 1.5 cubic yard bucket was installed last 
summer in eastern Siberia by C. W. Purington for the Orsk Goldfields (Ltd.), on a pile 
of tailing resembling in shape the slag pile at a smelter. It had an approximately 
level top 30 feet above the bed of a creek, in which it was piled with an approximately 
oval outline. This tailing had been discharged from dump carts pulled by horses. 
The excavator was placed on a track on top of the pile, and a 2 J foot sluice was installed 
on a grade of S^ inches per 12 feet, or approximately 5.5 per cent, parallel to the exca- 
vator track and 50 feet distant from it. 



The excavator was provided with a crane 60 feet long, and so made a cut about 115 
feet wide. Much of the time material was dug 30 feet below the track. 

The rate of digging was about 30 cubic yards per hour, although water was nearly 
always scant, and it was not possible to work at top speed. * * * Two men per 
shift were required to run an excavator, an operator and a fireman; three men were 
needed on the track and to tend the sluice and dump. From 5 to 6 cords of wood per 
24 hours were burned. Electric power has been used on drag-line excavators. 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 314- PLATE XII 




A. OPEN-CUT MINING WITH DERRICK AND BUCKET HOIST ON OPHIR CREEK. 




B. PLACER MINING WITH TRACK AND'INCLINE ON OPHIR CREEK. 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 314 PLATE XIII 




A. OPEN-CUT MINING WITH HAND TRAMS ON OPHIR CREEK. 




B. MINING WITH STEAM SHOVEL ON ANVIL CREEK. 



PLACER MINING. 289 

Among other advantages this excavator has a large radius of action; it can dig a cut 
over 200 feet wide with a 100-foot boom. It can be moved more easily than a steam 
shovel, by dropping the bucket in the direction it is wished to move and, after remov- 
ing the chucks, pulling on the drag line. More than 50 per cent of capacity can be 
obtained while moving by digging in a direction transverse to the line of track. The 
bucket is tight, so that there are no losses as with a dipper. It can excavate under 
water, and therefore is useful in exploiting wet creek beds, where it can be employed 
in conjunction with a sluice sustained on a scow or a plant consisting of screen, tables, 
and stacker sustained on a scow. With either of these latter arrangements mobility 
hardly inferior to that of a floating dredge can be secured and a plant to have 1,200 to 
2,500 cubic yards capacity can be installed for about $15,000 to $40,000 in most of the 
known placer regions. 

It seems possible that the drag-line excavator might be utilized to 
mine the alluvium of the present beach line and adjacent portions of 
the gravels underlying the tundra. Most of the mining on the present 
beach was done with rockers and much of the fine gold was lost. 

If this material could be handled by mechanical means the remain- 
ing gold could probably be profitably recovered. Many of the 
tailings from the older beaches and other deposits could probably be 
economically mined by this method. 

Where open-cut methods are used in mining deep gravels, or where 
sluice boxes are elevated to provide a dump for the tailings, steam 
bucket hoists (PL XII, A), 'derricks, or cars with inclines (PL XII, B) 
are used. If the operations are on a large scale and the distance to 
the sluice boxes warrants it, hand tramcars (PL XIII, A) are em- 
ployed. Steam shovels (PL XIII, B) have also been used in con- 
nection with hand trams and inclines operated by steam. The 
description of these various devices is beyond the scope of this 
article. 

HYDRAULIC MINING. 

Hydraulic mining — comprising those operations in which water 
power alone is used to excavate the gravels and move them to the 
sluice boxes — ^has not been an important factor in the gold output 
of Seward Peninsula, partly because of the relatively small amount 
of water available under sufiicient head, and partly because the 
stream gradients are such that some special device for the disposal of 
the tailings must usually be provided. Hydraulicking has, however, 
been extensively used to supplement other forms of mining, chiefly 
m ground sluicing (Pis. X, B, and XI, A) for the purpose of removing 
the overburden and concentrating the gold-bearing alluvium, which 
is subsequently shoveled or scraped into the sluice boxes. A number 
)f hydraulic plants have been successfully operated, but they are 
ather exceptional ia this province. In several districts hydraulic 
mines are operated during wet seasons. The discontiuuance of 
operations during the dry part of the summer leaves a heavy burden 
63851°— wsp 314—13 19 



290 SURFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 

of interest charges to be carried by the profits during the actual 
operations of the plant. The topography and water supply are such 
that water sufficient for hydraulic mining can usually be obtained only 
by long ditches, which require a large initial investment and consider- 
able annual outlay for upkeep. (See pp. 255-263.) In spite of these 
drawbacks, extensive deposits of gravel on the peninsula will prob- 
ably be worked by hydraulic means. At Daniels Creek a hydraulic 
mine (PL XIV, A) has been operated, except during dry weather, 
since 1905. Extensive benches along Kougarok River are admirably 
located for disposal of taUings, though the water supply is by no 
means ideal. The heavy bench deposits near Nome are in part so 
located that they could be hydraulicked by use of water from ditches 
already built, but at present the water is more valuable for other 
forms of mining. 

The deposits on Grass Gulch, which form a part of this extensive 
gravel sheet, have been successfully mined in part by water which is 
pumped — a form of hydrauHc mining which, as a rule, has not been 
commercially successful. This plant is described as follows by 
Henshaw in manuscript notes : 

Grass Gulch is a small stream less than two claims in length, rising in the Anvil- 
Dexter divide. It has a steep gradient averaging in the portion mined about 300 feet 
to the mile. A practically constant discharge of 12 second-feet of water was delivered 
to the ground by the Dexter branch of the Miocene ditch, which intersects the upper 
claim. Of the 12 second-feet of water 2,4 second-feet was pumped to a reservoir near 
the divide at an elevation of 115 feet above the ditch. The water for the giants was 
delivered from this reservoir through a 2f or 3 inch nozzle. Pressure at the nozzle 
varied from about 100 feet to less than 60 feet. The giants were set frequently so as to 
be close to the face to be worked and were so directed that they not only loosened the 
gravel, but also drove it toward the sluices. From the superintendent at this mine 
it was learned that in one pit mined during 1908 the volume of gravel moved during 
a continuous run of 88 hours, with 120 miners' inches of water delivered to the giant, 
was about 2,800 cubic yards a day, or nearly 2 cubic yards a minute. This gives a 
duty of over 20 cubic yards of gravel per miner's inch of water per day, which is 
believed to be one of the highest duties recorded. The secret of making this high 
duty was to keep the giants and the slip flumes close to the face. This required a 
considerable force of men, but was more economical than using a larger volume of 
water. 

ELEVATORS. 

Another use of water under head has been in hydraulic elevators 
(PL XV). Experienced engineers have failed to come to an agree- 
ment regarding the advantages and disadvantages of this use of water, 
and, therefore, the writer's opinion can have no value. Without doubt 
many hydraulic elevators have been installed in the past under con- 
ditions which were not favorable to their use, and hence they were 
later rejected. On the other hand, a number of very successful 
plants have used hydraulic elevators for many years. The following 
data on the use of the hydraulic elevator are quoted from a manuscript 
prepared by Smith and Henshaw: 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 314 PLATE XIV 




.1. HYDRAULIC MINING ON DANIELS CREEK. 



^HfekK 






iC 




^ 


I^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^BH^^^^P' 


^ __ *:^ 



B. UNDERGROUND MINING IN FROZEN ALLUVIUM NEAR NOME. 



PLACEK MINIITG. ' 291 

The elevator will handle two-thirds to three-fourths of the amount of water used in 
the nozzle and lift it 12 or 13 per cent of the head under which the water acts. If the 
lift is increased the volume of the water handled is reduced, so that for a lift of 15 to 
16 per cent only about one-third of the giant water can be handled. On the other 
hand reducing the lift below 10 per cent of the available head does not increase the 
amount of water that can be handled. It is evident that this method is particularly 
applicable to placers having an even bedrock floor with a flat slope where abundant 
water is available. 

A typical example of mining with the hydraulic elevator is at the Miocene Ditch 
Co.'s property on Glacier Creek. (See PI. XV.) This stream has a gradient of not 
more than 50 feet to the mile. The placer gravels are from 25 to 30 feet thick and are 
unfrozen, and the lift employed on the elevator has ranged from 40 to 50 feet. The 
pressure available at the nozzles in the bottom of the pit is from 350 to 380 feet, the 
greatest that has been used in Seward Peninsula. 

The elevator is set near the middle of the stream bed, and a pit is worked upstream 
and to either side. On claim "No. 1 below" a pit 400 feet wide, 450 feet long, and 
about 30 feet deep was worked from one setting. Two giants with 3-inch nozzles were 
used, each discharging 200 miner's inches of water. ^ The 4J-inch nozzle on the 
elevator, discharging about 500 inches of water, was sufficient to handle this amount, 
as well as that which seeped into the pit. 

The method generally used was to keep a nearly vertical face to the bank and to 
direct the stream from the giant against the base, thus loosening and caving the gravel 
and at the same time driving it toward the elevator. When the distance to the ele- 
vator was great, iron flumes were laid in trenches in the bedrock to facilitate the move- 
ment of the gravels. Wlien practically all the gravel had been removed the bedrock 
was cleaned by pick and shovel work. 

At different places variations of the method have been practiced. Where the 
bedrock is compact and the gold does not penetrate far it is not thought necessary to 
clean the bedrock more thoroughly than can be done with the hydraulic giant. The 
size of pit worked in one setting is also a variable feature, and the amount of water 
and the pressures obtained differ at almost every mine. 

The hydraulic elevator and the dredge are the two methods of handling gravel that 
must be elevated, and the applicability of one or the other to a particular problem 
should be settled only by careful examination of the property by a mining engineer. 
Considered as a matter of power used to handle a given amount of ground the dredge 
is superior. A standard dredge with buckets of 5 cubic feet capacity will handle, say, 
3,000 cubic yards a day, using 250 horsepower. An elevator plant using 1,000 miner's 
inches of water, or 20 second-feet, with a head of 300 feet, will, under favorable con- 
ditions, handle nearly the same amount. However, the potential energy used is 
about 600 horsepower, or more than twice that used by a dredge performing the same 
work. Furthermore, on account of the time that it takes to reset an elevator the 
elevator will not be able to maintain more than about two-thirds the continuous 
capacity of the dredge, and therefore the advantage of power in favor of the dredge 
is perhaps in the ratio of 3 or 4 to 1. Also the number of men necessary to run the 
elevator will be three or four times as great as is required to run the dredge. If the 
ditch required for the hydraulic mining is 25 miles long the cost of bringing water to 
the ground to be worked, together with the capitalized cost of maintenance, would 
aggregate approximately $300,000. A dredge of somewhat greater capacity could be 
installed for less than half of this amount. 

If, however, the ground to be mined is permanently frozen and the gold has pene- 
trated far into the crevices of a hard bedrock, or if the bedrock surface is very irregular, 
as is common where limestones occur, the use of the hydraulic elevator would probably 
prove most advantageous. It has been demonstrated that where there is much sticky 

1 Tbe miner's inch xised by the Miocene Ditch Co. was equal to 1.2 cubic feet a minute. 



292 SUEFACE WATEK SUPPLY OF SEWAKD PENINSULA. 

clay the material is more thoroughly broken up by hydraulic elevators than by the 
dredge. Theoretically the various devices used on dredges, such as revolving trom- 
mels and shaking screens, are supposed to break up the lumps of clay, but actual 
experience shows that in many places they fail to perform this task satisfactorily. 

The particular value of the hydraulic-eleA''ator method in recovering the gold from 
a hard or irregular bedrock surface is not so much in actually winning the gold as in 
leaving an open pit, the floor of which can be cleaned by hand as thoroughly as the 
gold content justifies. It is safe to say that on certain rich claims, such as those on 
portions of Ophir Creek, in the Council region, and in certain sections of the Inmachuk 
region where limestone forms an irregular floor on which the placer gravels were 
deposited, the increased saving of gold by this means will more than pay the total 
cost of mining with the hydraulic elevator. Mechanical elevators, which have been 
successfully employed in the Klondike placer district,^ have not been used in Seward 
Peninsula. 

DREDGING. 

Several small dredges were brought to Nome during the excite- 
ment of 1900. These were for the most part designed to excavate the 
beach sands and were too light for any other use. In later years 
several dredges, both of dipper and bucket type, were constructed, and 
some of them did effective work in mining rich deposits, but in general 
they were not designed or adapted to do the real work of a gold 
dredge — that is, to handle efficiently a large amount of auriferous 
gravels which can not be economically mined in any other way. 
Although none of these earlier dredges achieved marked success, their 
operators should be credited with the pioneer work in this form of 
mining. 

The present epoch of successful dredge mining dates from 1905, 
when the Three Friends dredge (PL XVI) on Solomon River, about 
40 miles east of Nome, was installed, and the Blue Goose dredge at 
Ophir began to be operated. The Three Friends dredge was under 
the management of W. L. Leland, one of the leaders in ditch con- 
struction four years before. The success of this dredge was due 
largely to careful preparation before the machine was installed. The 
entire area of dredging ground was systematically prospected, so that 
the gold content, the depth and physical condition of the gravels, and 
the character of the bedrock were definitely known before the large 
investment necessary for the dredge was made. Had this example 
been followed by all dredging promoters most of the failures which 
have hurt the mining industry of the peninsula could have been 
avoided. The Three Friends dredge has been described as foUows 
by Smith: 2 

Between Rock Creek and Johnson Gulch the ground is held by the Three Friends 
Mining Co., which is mining the gravels of the river by means of a large dredge of 
the Bucyrus type. The width of the valley floor at this place ranges from 400 to 
600 feet. The depth of the gravel varies much, but is on the average between 15 

1 Rickard, T. A., Mechanical elevators: Min. and Sci. Press, Mar. 20, 1909, pp. 415-418. 
> Smith, P. S., Geology and mineral resources of the Solomon and Casadepaga quadrangles, Seward 
Peninsula, Alasl^a: BuU. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 433, 1910, pp. 15^159. 



PLACEE MINING. 293 

and 20 feet. This enterprise may be regarded in many ways as a model of the care- 
ful application of business principles to mining. The thorough and systematic 
prospecting of the ground by trenches and drill holes should serve as an example 
to all those contemplating mining by dredging. 

The Three Friends Co.'s dredge was built in 1905 and began its first work in Sep- 
tember of that year. It is similar in all essential respects to the dredges in use at 
Oroville, Cal. Each of the buckets is made of high-grade steel, weighs over 1,100 
pounds, and has a capacity of 5 cubic feet. The gravels, after having been elevated 
by the buckets, are dumped on shaking screens, and the material which passes 
through is distributed to tables, where the values are retained. The coarse tailings 
are fed to an endless rubber-belt conveyor and are stacked in ridges at the rear of 
the dredge. 

The freezing of the tailings and the conveyor belt in the late fall or early spring 
was prevented by covering the stacker with old canvas and running a small exhaust- 
steam pipe a short distance along the conveyor. By this means it has been possible 
to operate the dredge after the other creek operators have been forced to close down. 
The high cost of the coal used as fuel has led to the consideration of plans for a hydro- 
electric installation. In fact, the dredge was so constructed that the steam plant 
could be easily supplanted by electricity. Such a change would not only reduce 
the cost of power, but it would also permit increased production by reducing the 
time necessary for cleaning up. 

A technical description of this dredge recently published by Rickard ^ gives some 
figures regarding the enterprise not heretofore available for publication. According 
to the article, the dredge cost $118,000 and was modeled after Exploration No. 2 
dredge at Oroville, Cal. Its capacity is 3,700 cubic yards a day, and its cost of oper- 
ation is estimated at about 10^ cents a cubic yard. If, however, the total cost is 
made to include not only the actual operating expense but also items to cover depre- 
ciation, maintenance, and amortization of the capital, the cost is brought up to 18 
cents a cubic yard. 

While these statements of the cost of handling the gravel are of great interest, it 
seems wise to interject a word of caution against applying these figures to all dredg- 
ing enterprises in Seward Peninsula. It should be remembered that such low oper- 
ating expenses are possible only under particularly favorable physical conditions. 
All the ground to be dredged was carefully tested in advance of actual mining, and 
the area and extent of permanently frozen ground outlined so that it could be avoided. 
Most of all, however, sufficient acreage was obtained to outlast the life of the dredge. 
By attention to this last detail the amortization charges per year were greatly reduced, 
for it is evident that such charges are much lower where the installation will have a 
life of 10 years than where it wiU have one of only 5 years. In the case of the dredge 
in question the company, according to Rickard, controls 4,000 acres, of which less 
than 100 have been dredged out in the three years that the company has been oper- 
ating. 

Still another fact that has contributed to the success of the work at this point has 
been that the bedrock over the larger part of the area is schist, which is much more 
easily excavated than the hard limestone which can be handled only by very pow- 
erful dredges. 

Another dredge on Solomon Kiver owned by tlie Nome-Montana- 
New Mexico Mining Co. is described by Smitb as follows: ' 

Just above Johnson Gulch, upstream from the Three Friends Co.'s property, another 
dredge operated by a different company was installed during 1908 in the short space 

« Rickard, T. A., Dredging on the Seward Peninsula: Min. and SoL Press, vol. 97, 1908, pp. 734-740. 
« Op. cit, pp. 161-162. 



294 SUEFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 

of seven weeks. It was not a new dredge, having been originally in use near Hope, 
Alaska, but it had seen so little service as to be practically as good as new. Almost 
the entire first part of the summer was lost from actual productive work in assembling 
the dredge and it was after September before mining began. Work was carried on 
until the close of the open season, about the end of the third week of October, and a 
large amount of gravel was moved. The chance of comparing this dredge, which is 
of the Risdon type, with the modification of the Bucyrus farther downstream, is 
exceptionally good and should afford considerable data for a rigid examination of 
the efficiency of each type. 

In operation the 5-foot buckets raise their load of gravel to the level of the upper 
deck of the dredge and dump it onto an inclined plate, which directs the material 
into a revolving trommel. The oversize from this is discharged into flat pans which 
form a bucket conveyor, and the tailings are stacked at the rear of the dredge. The 
finer material, after passing through a screen, is fed to tables covered with cocoa 
matting, on which are laid expanded-metal riffles. No quicksilver is used on the 
tables. The greater part of the gold is caught in the upper part of the tables, but 
the lighter material, after it has left the tables, is carried in a sluice with riffles, and 
a small additional saving may thus be effected. 

According to Rickard,^ the actual operating expense at this dredge, without allow- 
ing for depreciation, interest, or amortization, is a little over 14J cents per cubic yard. 

Two dredges near Nome, which were visited by Henshaw in 1908, are 
described by him as follows : ^ 

Dredging bids fair to become an important factor in the working of the deposits of 
gold-bearing gravels in the coastal plain. Two large dredges were erected near Nome 
in 1908 — one on Bourbon Creek near its junction with Dry Creek, the other on Wonder 
Creek just south of the third-beach line. The Bourbon dredge has a chain of 66 
buckets, close connected, of 9 cubic feet capacity, and a nominal capacity of some 
5,000 cubic yards a day. When first built, the bucket ladder was poorly balanced, 
and when digging near the water surface the heavy weight on the forward gantry sank 
the bow of the dredge so low that the deck was awash. When the machine was dig- 
ging on bedrock, the bow was higher than the stern. This dredge was completed in 
August, 1908, and worked for a few days. An accident caused by the buckets coming 
into contact with the hull resulted in the sinking of the dredge, and it wa^ not raised 
in time to start again that season. In 1909 the dredge was thoroughly overhauled, 
the bow gantry, the tackles for hoisting the ladder and spud, and the supports of the 
revolving trommel were strengthened, and the sluices were essentially modified. 
A 6-inch sand^ump was installed, which is sufficient to handle the sluice water from 
one side only. 

The gravel in the channel of Bourbon Creek is mostly fine, fully 70 or 80 per cent 
of the total passing through the screend. The sluices are ill adapted to handling so 
much fine material, and it has been found impracticable to fill the buckets more than 
half full. The ladder is arranged to dig to a depth of about 30 feet below the water 
level. Much of the ground is deeper than this and it may be found necessary to 
lower the water level in the pond by pumping. The strip of ground being worked 
was only about 180 feet wide, and it was sometimes found necessary to cut into 
tongues of frozen ground in order to keep a sufficient width of face, thus causing an 
excessive amount of wear of the buckets and machinery. 

The second large dredge, on Wonder Creek, carries a chain of 40 buckets of 7 cubic 
feet capacity, open connected, on a ladder 100 feet in length, and is adapted to digging 
40 to 45 feet below the water level. Wonder Creek is dry during a summer like 1909, 

1 Rickard, T. A., Dredging on the Seward Peninsula: Min. and Sci. Press, vol. 97, 1908, pp. 734-740. 

2 Henshaw, F. F., Mining in Seward Peninsula: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 442, 1910, pp. 357-358. 



PLACEK MINING. 295 

and water to float the dredge had to be obtained from one of the ditches. The bedrock 
is about 50 feet deep, and the water surface was kept about 10 feet below the ground 
level in order to reach it. The water in the pool was used over and over and became 
very thick and muddy. The gravels are nearly as fine as those in Bourbon Creek, 
about 70 per cent passing through the screens. Considerable difficulty was experienced 
by the grounding of the stern in the deposits of fine tailings, and it was found necessary 
to make two settings of the spud in order to use the entire width of the cut, nearly 
300 feet, for dumping the tailings. A number of large bowlders and slab of rock were 
encountered near bedrock, some of them at least 4 or 5 feet in length. These seemed 
to be handled without difficulty, but the dredge had to be stopped while they were 
removed from the buckets with a hoist block. 

Both the Bourbon and Wonder Creek dredges are electrically driven with current 
generated from a power station located near the former. It was not learned just why 
the plant was built at this point instead of on the beach, where fuel could have been 
landed direct from the lighters instead of having to be hauled from 1 to 2 miles. 

A dredge owned by the Blue Goose Mining Co. lias been in operation 
in Opbir Creek for a number of years. This was one of the first 
dredges installed on the peninsula, and since 1905 has been steadily 
operated. It is described by Rickard ^ as follows: 

The dredge has buckets of 5 cubic feet capacity, close connected, turning over a 
hexagonal upper tumbler and a pentagonal lower tumbler. The buckets empty into 
a hopper lined with steel plates, and thence the material passes over a sluice 4 feet 
wide and 22 feet long provided with cast-iron (Hungarian) riffles. Here as much as 
90 per cent of the gold is caught. Then come two shaking screen tables, made of 
perforated plates, each 14 feet long and with a movement in opposite directions. 
The perforations are three-eighths and five-eighths inch, successively. On the screen 
tables there are obstructions or stops (made of cast iron) so as to retard the flow of the 
gravel and disintegrate any clay. The shaking screens have a 6-inch stroke, and the 
eccentrics run smoothly. Water is raised to the head of the top sluice by a 10-inch 
Morris sand pump, which also elevates the drip from the "save-all" in the well. The 
dredge is digging 14 feet under water; there is no bank above water except an occa- 
sional foot or two of old tailing from early ground-sluicing operations. 

******* 

When working full time, this dredge raises 1,000 cubic yards per day. It digs from 
1 to 4 feet of bedrock, which is a soft schist. On the pontoon there is a machine shop, 
smithy, and mess room. The crew take their midday meal on board, and when the 
dredge is at work they must feel like the passengers on a Yukon steamer aground. 
During the season of 1907 this dredge worked for 110 days. The actual running time 
represented 69 per cent of the total time. The ground excavated represented 98,718 
cubic yards; the total expenses were $31,672, and the value of the gold extracted was 
$83,144. Therefore the average yield was 84 cents and the average cost 32 cents per 
cubic yard. The season of 1908 will show about the same costs but a better yield of 
gold. The fuel consumed is wood, at the rate of 10 cords per day, at $10 per cord 
delivered. The total costs as given above include all repairs, equipment, and general 
expenses. The dredge cost $28,700; it was a small and poorly equipped machine, 
therefore repairs entail $5,000 each season. 

Ten new dredges were installed on Seward Peninsula in 1910, of 
which number nine were operated for a part of the season. Seven 
dredges built in previous years were also operated. Three of these 
new dredges were installed in the region tributary to Nome, making 

» Rickard, T, A., Dredging on the Seward Peninsula: Min, and Sci. Press, vol. 97, 1908, pp. 736-738. 



296 SURFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 

five in all for this district, of which four were operated in 1910. Four 
dredges were operated in the Solomon basin, of which two were built 
in 1910. Two new dredges and three old ones were operated in the 
Council region, and one new one in the Casadepaga basin. Details 
regarding the operations of all these dredges are not available at this 
writing. It appears, however, that the 16 dredges, including the 
9 new ones, some of which were only completed in time for a brief 
test, were operated from 10 to 130 days, each averaging 58 days. 
The daily capacity of these dredges varies from 1,000 to 5,000 cubic 
yards, and they are equipped with a total of about 2,500 horsepower. 
The buckets vary in capacity from 2 J to 9 cubic feet; all but five 
have buckets holding 3^ cubic feet or less. Two are driven by 
electric power generated at the same plant; seven are equipped with 
steam power, of which four use coal, two crude oil, and one wood for 
fuel. The other dredges are equipped with gasoline engines. It is 
estimated that the 16 dredges operated handled between 1,200,000 
and 1,500,000 cubic yards of gravel; had they all been able to operate 
to their full capacity, they should have handled at least twice as 
much. It is significant that the gravel handled by all other forms of 
placer mining on the peninsula in the year 1910 is roughly estimated 
to have totaled about 800,000 cubic yards. Complete returns are not 
available regarding the gold output of the dredges, but it is estimated 
to have a value of about $800,000. It seems probable that the aver- 
age working season should be 110 to 130 days, instead of 90, as has 
been the case in the past. If this is true, the dredge production can 
be largely increased, even without any additional machines. 

In 1911, 18 dredges were operated for a part or the whole of 
the season in Seward Peninsula, of which 5 were built during the 
summer of 1911. Seven of these were in the Nome region, seven in 
the Solomon River basin, and five in the Council district. In addition 
to these, five more dredges were in process of construction, of which 
three are in the Nome region and one each in the Council and 
Kougarok districts. 

It is not impossible that the output of the dredges alone in Seward 
Peninsula may soon reach $2,000,000. There is hope, therefore, that 
the gold output of the peninsula in 1910 may be the minimum for 
some time to come. 

As indicated above, the past few years have witnessed remarkably 
rapid development in gold dredging along the southern margin of 
Seward Peninsula. This form of mining has been successfully carried 
on by more than a dozen different companies, and further installation 
of machines is assured. Most of the operators consider the presence 
of any considerable amount of frozen ground a bar to successful 
dredging enterprises, but even though that may be true, the peninsula 
contains extensive deposits of auriferous alluvium that are suitable 



PLACER MINING. 297 

for dredging. No one can doubt tliat very large areas of auriferous 
gravels in the Seward Peninsula carry 25 cents or more in gold to tlie 
cubic yard. If these can be dredged at a cost of 15 or even 20 cents 
a yard, it will leave a considerable profit to the dredge. While no 
exact figures are available, it is probable that most of the ground thus 
far dredged has carried 30 to 80 cents a yard. Little attempt has been 
made so far toward introducing economies, and most of the operations 
have been carried on by one-dredge units. Centralization of admin- 
istrative expenses, establishment of central-power plants conveniently 
located for fuel delivery, and standardization of dredges so as to make 
parts interchangeable should lead to considerable reduction of costs. 
The problems of recovering gold by dredges from frozen ground 
remain for the engineer to solve. Rickard ^ reports the cost of 
thawing dredging ground in the Yukon basin with steam as 9 J to 12 
cents a yard. These figures are based on the use of wood for fuel at 
a cost of $7 to $12 a cord, which is approximately equivalent to coal 
at $18 to $24 a ton. It would appear, therefore, that this cost should 
not be exceeded in Seward Peninsula. Another possible method of 
thawing the dredging ground is by exposure to the air. If the deposit 
is extensive enough to permit long open cuts, exposure to air and sun 
might thaw the ground rapidly enough to give the dredge sufficient 
material to work on while moving from one end of the cut to the 
other. A method of this kind has been used in the E^ondike, where 
the cuts are made by hydraulic means and the water helps to thaw 
the ground. The gravel plain which stretches inland from the coast 
is the largest known auriferous deposit in Seward Peninsula, and 
probably in Alaska, and would seem to be a favorable field for the 
method of mining suggested above. The water supplied by the 
ditches already built will eventually be available for this form of 
excavating, when no longer used for mining the high-grade gravels. 
The bedrock surface is so close to sea level that means will have to be 
devised to elevate the material excavated by hydraulicking. This 
might be done advantageously by mechanical elevators, as fuel at 
Nome is comparatively cheap. It should be noted that much of this 
gravel is more than 60 feet in depth, and probably could not be 
dredged without groundsluicing off some of the overburden. The 
enterprise as a whole needs a very large amount of capital and 
requires careful investigation by competent engineers. 

■CTNDERGROTJND MINING, 

Drift mining, the term used in Alaska to cover the operations of 
recovering ^uriferous gravels by underground work, includes sinking 
shafts, driving levels, and stoping. In the Kougarok region some of 
the bench deposits have been mined from adit tunnels, but in nearly 

> Rickard, T. A., Dredging on the Yukon: Min. and Sci. Press, vol. 97, 1908, pp. 290-293, 354-357. 



298 SUBFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 

all other districts of Seward Peninsula it has been necessary to sink 
shafts and hoist the material. Drift mining differs from open-cut 
work in the fact that only the gravels carrying gold are excavated, 
the overburden being left in place. Most of the underground opera- 
tions in the Seward Peninsula have been confined to frozen ground, 
so that little timbering and no pumping are necessary. Some of the 
rich ancient-beach deposits occur in the unfrozen ground, and these 
have been mined by underground methods, but at heavy expense. 

Drift mining was in use in the Yukon camps before the discovery 
of the Klondike, but it was in the Klondike that it received its 
greatest development. It has been of great economic importance, 
because, as it can be followed in winter as well as in summer, it gave 
employment to the miners during the long closed season. It thus 
had the important effect of giving the population of the mining 
camps a greater degree of permanency. Drift mining began at 
Nome in the early days of the camp and steadily increased, so that by 
1905 the annual output was over a million dollars in value. During 
the following winter the third-beach line was discovered, and as it 
was mined entirely by drift methods, this form of development soon 
overshadowed all others in the peninsula. In 1906 the value of the 
gold output from drift mining was probably about $4,000,000, but 
it has since declined, falling in 1910 to about $1,000,000. Drift 
mining has been confined chiefly to very rich deposits; hence there 
has been no great incentive to the improvement of methods and the 
introduction of economies. Moreover, the deposits were not only 
very rich but fairly regular in their occurrence. In this respect drift 
mining at Nome differed from that at Fairbanks, where determination 
of the location and dimensions of the pay streak entails heavy expense. 
On the other hand, unfrozen ground was encountered on the third- 
beach line, whereas at Fairbanks such ground is of unusual occurrence. 
The average depth of ground to bedrock at Fairbanks is probably 
twice that at Nome. 

The operations of drift mining include the sinking of a shaft to 
bedrock and the driving of a drift along the pay streak (PI. XIV, B). 
If the pay streak is narrow this drift might comprise the entire mine 
workings; if it is wide, the ground is blocked out by additional drifts 
and crosscuts. As most of the gravels mined by drifting are frozen, 
the thawing of the material before excavating is an important element 
in the operations. It has been roughly estimated that under average 
conditions one-third of the cost of operating, including the cost of 
mining and hoisting, is represented by the cost of fuel consumed in 
making steam for thawing. Some incomplete data indicate a coal 
consumption of 25 to 40 pounds for each cubic yard of gravel thawed.^ 

1 These figures refer only to underground thawing. The fuel consumption in thawing in open cuts is 
probably only from 25 to 35 per cent as great. 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 3U PLATE XVII 




A. HEADFRAME AND SLUICE BOXES FOR UNDERGROUND MINING OPERATIONS IN NOME. 




SURFACE EQUIPMENT OF UNDERGROUND MINE NEAR NOME, USING AERIAL TRAM AND 
SELF-DUMPING BUCKET. 



PLACEE MINING. 



299 



In the early days on the Yukon the sinking of shafts and driving 
of drifts was accomplished with the aid of wood fires or heated rocks. 
When underground mining on a large scale was begun in the Klondike 
the method of thawing by steam was devised. This consists, in 
effect, of introducing a jet of steam through so-called iron ^'points/' 
which are driven into the frozen ground to depths varying from 5 to 
20 feet. At Fairbanks, where this form of mining has reached its 
highest development, the points are usually driven from 2J to 3 feet 




Points 



Figure 12.— Diagrammatic section of underground placer mine, showing method of hoisting and thawing 

with steam. 



apart, and the duty of a point is from 3 to 3^ cubic yards during a 
period of eight to ten hours. ^ 

Hoisting is now almost invariably done by steam or gasoline engines. 
The most common practice at Nome is to have the sluice boxes close 
to the headframe and connected by a tram. (See fig. 12.) The 
gravel is trammed from the working face to the shaft, hoisted, and 
then trammed to the sluice boxes (PL XVII, A). At some mines 
self-dumping buckets and aerial trams (PL XVII, B) are used; this 
the ordinary practice at Fairbanks. The trolley cable is then 



IS 



1 Prindle, L. M., and Katz, F. J., The Fairbanks gold-placer region: Bull. U. 
1909, p. 196. 



Geol. Survey No. 379, 



300 SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 

usually swung between the headframe and a gin pole. This system 
has the advantage of being more mobile than the ather and permits 
placing the dumps at any convenient locality. 

Winter operations necessitate the accumulation of the gravel in 
dumps, which are placed over sluice boxes in order to avoid, so far 
as possible, the rehandling of the material. In some places the 
dumps freeze so solidly that partial rethawing by steam has to be 
resorted to. 

Some successful underground mining has been carried on at Nome 
in thawed ground, but only where the gravel contained considerable 
gold. Such mining requii'ed timbering and usually pumping, both of 
which are expensive. In one or two mines artificial freezing has been 
employed, but no figures are available regarding the comparative 
cost of this practice and that of timbering and pumping. Where 
pumps have been installed the water from the pump is often used for 
sluicing. If it is not so used, sluicing water has to be provided from 
other sources. At many localities water is available during several 
weeks in the late spring for sluicing the winter dumps, but at other 
times it can be obtained only at heavy expense. 

It is unfortunate that no cost sheets for an underground mining 
plant at Nome are available. Purington ^ reported the cost of under- 
ground mining on Seward Peninsula in 1904 as $3.66 a cubic yard. 
At Fairbanks in 1908, where wages, including board, were about $6 a 
day, and wood $10 a cord, the lowest cost for underground miaing 
was about $3.50 a cubic yard.^ At Nome fuel oil is less expensive than 
wood at Fairbanks, and ia the winter of 1910 wages, including board, 
probably averaged about $4, so that it would appear that the cost of 
underground mining is considerably less than at Fairbanks. On 
the other hand, the only published figures that have come to the notice 
of the writer indicate higher unit cost than at Fairbanks. The follow- 
ing statement ^ is quoted from a recently published article: 

The labor union, carefully sizing up the situation early last winter, with rare good 
sense fixed the winter wage scale at $1 per day less than had prevailed during the three 
previous winters, and thus without any friction or dissatisfaction operators were able 
to secure good labor at $3 per day and board. This condition undoubtedly encouraged 
some of the operators to attempt the extraction of gravel that has been heretofore 
considered too low grade to handle. The average cost of working a 2 to 3 foot pay 
streak in frozen ground in the Nome district, placing the pay gravel in a dump on the 
surface and groundsluicing and shoveling it into sluice boxes in the spring, has been 
about $4 per yard, and operators have hesitated to attempt to mine ground that sampled 
less than 4 or 5 cents per pan, which is equal to $6 to $7.50 per cubic yard. During 
the past winter, however, much of the material hoisted averaged only 3 cents per pan, 

1 Purington, C. W., Methods and costs of gravel and placer mining in Alaska: Bull, U. S. Geol. Survey 
No. 263, 1905 p. 38. 

« Prindle, L. M., and Katz, F. J., The Fairbanks gold-placer region: Bull. U. S. Geol. Survey No. 379 
1909, pp. 198-199. 

» Min. and Sci. Press, July 16, 1910, p. 88. 



PLACEE MINING. 301 

or $4.50 per yard. Louis Stevenson, superintendent for the Pioneer Mining Co., 
informs me that he has several thousand cubic yards of gravel in dumps this spring 
mined from a pay streak 7 or more feet thick which averages only $1,875 per yard and 
yet leaves a profit of $0,625 per yard, allowing for the usual cost of sluicing. This case, 
however, is exceptional, as pay streaks of this character.are usually only 3 feet or less 
in thickness, which necessitates handling about 2 feet of waste, and as the work was 
done near an established camp it does not take into consideration the cost of equip- 
ment nor make any allowance for depreciation. Making all due allowances, however, 
it is still the most creditable showing yet made in this district and brings into the class 
of profitable ground much territory that has been heretofore considered too low grade 
to handle. 

It should be noted that the above statement of costs applies only 
to the accessible parts of Seward Peninsula. The transportation 
charges to the inland camps will very materially affect the cost of 
underground work as well as of other forms of mining. 

SUMMARY OF PLACER MINING. 

Nearly $60,000,000 worth of gold^ (p. 270) has been won from the 
placers of Seward Peninsula. Most of the gold output up to 1908 was 
derived from bonanzas, whose richness did not demand a close scrutiny 
of mining costs. As a large part of the known bonanza deposits are 
worked out, there is a strong incentive to develop methods which wiQ 
permit extraction of the gold from the very extensive gravel deposits 
in the peninsula which carry low values. This has led to the installa- 
tion of many dredges and to the development of other methods of 
mining at low cost. Considerable progress has been made in introduc- 
ing economies, but much still remains to be done. 

The steady progress in mining methods is reflected in the gradual 
decline of the average gold content of the gravels mined each year. 
Accurate figures of the average gold content are lacking, but the 
estimates in the following table are based on a careful study of all the 
available data. It should be noted that in the yardage of gravel 
miaed the overburden which has been removed by groundsluicing or 
otherwise was not taken into account, only the material which has 
been passed through the sluice boxes being included. 

Estimated average value of gold recovered per cubic yard from Seward Peninsula placers, 

1898-1910. 

1898-1904 $5.95 

1905 5. 15 

1906 5.80 

1907 5.00 

1908 4.30 

1909 2.80 

1910 1.95 

I Up to the close of 1910. The output of 1911 had a value of $3,100,000; that of 1912 about $3,000,000, 



302 SUKFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWAED PENINSULA. 



^ 



The high recovery for the year 1906 was due to the mining of the 
very rich placers along the third-beach line. The rapid decline in 
gold values in 1909 and 1910 is the result of the large yardage of 
gravel of relatively low tonor handled by the dredges. 

The decline in the average gold content of the gravels mnied, far 
from being discouraging, is one of the most hopeful features of the 
mining industry. It reflects credit on the operators who have so 
improved their practice as to permit the mining of placers which a 
few years ago would have been considered absolutely worthless. 
Every reduction in costs results in making available for profitable 
mining larger quantities of auriferous gravels, thus increasing the 
available gold reserves and assuring longer life to the placer-mining 
industry. The recovered values of $1.95 a cubic yard for 1910 may 
seem very low for Alaska placer mining, but it is extraordinarily high 
compared with the average recovery in the States, which for 1909 
has been estimated by Waldemar Lindgren^ to be about 12 cents a 
cubic yard. 

In the foregoing pages several suggestions have been made as to 
economies that might be introduced. The cheapening of fuel will be 
a very important element and should be brought about by the 
enormously rapid increase in the output of oil from the California 
fields and by the much-desired early development of Alaska coal. 
If dredge mining developed on a sufficiently large scale in the central 
and northeastern districts cheap power might be obtained from a 
central plant located in the Chicago Creek coal field. Water-power 
development also might be an element in the problem. (See pp. 249- 
255.) For the dredges of the Bering Sea slope central stations located 
near tidewater, burning fuel oil, are likely to be the cheapest source of 
power. The building of railways and more particularly of wagon 
roads would also reduce the cost of mining. It does not seem likely 
that economies can or ought to be made in wages, though a reduction 
in the cost of labor might be effected by providing earlier steamers in 
the spring and later steamers in the fall to Nome. It seems probable 
that a steamer could be sent out from Nome in the fall later than has 
usually been the practice. It has also been suggested that a boat 
built especially for breaking ice might be able to plow through the 
ice of Bering Sea even in midwinter, but such an enterprise would, 
of course, not be economically feasible unless a very large number of 
additional dredges were built. If 50 large dredges were operated 
on the peninsula, however, an extra month's work in a season might 
increase the annual gold output a milUon dollars. 

Cheaper transportation and fuel would decrease the expense of 
dredging and to a lesser extent the cost of other forms of mining. 

1 Oral communication. 



PLACEK MINING. 303 

Mining engineers who have studied the question hold that mining 
costs can be reduced by the increased use of mechanical devices 
other than dredges. 

The data presented go to show that the cost of placer mining in 
Seward Peninsula is much greater than in the States. It is also true, 
however, that the peninsula is far more easy of access than the Yukon 
region and, except for the absence of fuel, its physical conditions are 
more favorable to mining. Mining operations should therefore cost 
much less at Nome than at Fairbanks or in the Klondike. The 
Klondike has an advantage in its water supply, but in stream 
gradients there is httle to choose between Fairbanks and Seward 
Peninsula. 

The future of the placer-mining industry of the peninsula depends, 
of course, on the amount of placer ground remaining that can be 
profitably exploited. This, in turn, is a function of the cost of 
mining. No one can doubt that there are enormous deposits of 
gravel which carry 25 cents in gold to the yard, in such position that 
they can be mined only by mechanical means, particularly by dredges. 
What percentage of this gravel is unfrozen and therefore available 
for recovery under the present dredging practice can be determined 
only by careful prospecting. The most important problem for 
'future dredge mining is to devise means to thaw the frozen auriferous 
alluvium at a cost sufficiently low to permit profitable extraction by 
dredges. Extensive creek placers, too shallow to work by dredges, 
probably carry higher values than the deposits mentioned above. 
Some of these deposits are so located with reference to water supply 
that they can be profitably hydraulicked, though elevating the 
tailings will in most localities be necessary. Lack of water, however, 
will always prevent any very large expansion of the hydraulic-mining 
industry. Underground mining is on the wane and the outlook for 
its expansion is not encouraging, although some extensive deposits 
of deep gravels at several locaUties have not yet been carefully 
prospected. 



INDEX. 



A. Page. 

Abbe, Cleveland, on climate 15 

Acknowledgments to those aiding 13 

Acre-foot, definition of 62 

Agiapuk River basin, drainage areas in 66-67 

AlJield Creek near- 
month: 

discharge 38 

American Creek near— 
Aubtirn Ravine: 

description 77 

discharge 77-78 

gage heights 77-78 

American River basin, description of 221 

drainage areas in 67 

gaging stations in 221 

Ancient stream placers, distribution and 

character of 42-44 

figvire showing 41 

Anderson Gulch, 

Windy Creek near: 

discharge 220 

Anvil Creek, mining on, plates showing.... 286,288 
Arctic Creek near- 
mouth: 

discharge 220 

Arizona Creek near— 
mouth: 

discharge 220 

Auburn Ravine, 

American Creek near: 

description 77 

77-78 

77-78 

Aurora Creek at— 

Cedric ditch intake: 

discharge 145 

Aurora Creek mouth, 
Cripple River near: 

discharge 145 

B. 

Baker Creek- 
discharge 68 

Banner Creek crossing, 
Seward ditch near: 

discharge 139 

Bar placers, distribution and character of 40-41 

Basic effusive rocks, distribution and char- 
acter of 36-37 

Beach placers, distribution and character 

of 44-48,51 

section of, figures vShowing 45, 47 

Bear Creek at or near- 
Cub Creek: 

discharge 249 

ditch intake: 

discharge 249 

63851°— wsp 314—13 20 



Page. 

Bear Creek bt«sin, description of 249 

miscellaneous measurements in 249 

Bedrock, depth to 43-44 

Bench placers, distribution and character of. 41-42 

figure showing 41 

Bendeleben Mountains, character of 14 

water power from 254 

Bibliography 9-10 

Big Creek at- - 

edge of mountains: 

dischiirge 194 

Big Hurrah Creek at— 
mouth: 

discharge 90 

Big Hurrah Creek mouth. 
East Fork ditch near: 

discharge 90 

Midnight Sun ditch near: 

discharge 90 

Bismark Creek at or near- 
intake: 

discharge 223 

Bismark Creek mouth, 
Quartz Creek near: 

description 223 

discharge, daily 223 

gage heights 223 

Black Point, 

Campion ditch at: 

description 105 

discharge 108 

discharge, daily 106-107 

gage heights 106-107 

David Creek ditch at: 

description 121 

discharge 121 

discharge, daily 122-123 

gage heights 122-123 

Miocene ditch at: 

description 108 

discharge 109 

discharge, daily 109-111 

gage heights 109-1 11 

precipitation at 19-28, 31 

chart showing 20 

Blue Goose Minin g Co. , dredge of 295 

Bluestone River basin, drainage areas in 65 

Bluff, mining at, plate showing 284 

Board, cost of 274 

Bob Creek at— 
mouth: 

discharge 249 

Boston Creek- 
discharge 68 

Boulder Creek (Casadepaga River drainage) 
at— 
mouth: 

discharge 81 

305 



306 



INDEX. 



Page. 
Boulder Creek (Kiwalik River drainage) at— 
ditch intake: 

discharge 248 

Boulder Creek mouth, 
Canyon Creek near: 

discharge 81 

Brooks, A, H. , introduction by 9-13 

on placer mining 269-303 

Bryan Creek near — 
ditch intake: 

discharge 223 

Budd Creek, precipitation at 19, 23, 24, 29 

Buffalo Creek near- 
Hudson Creek: 

discharge 138 

Burnside Creek at— 
siphon crossing: 

discharge 248 

C. 

California Creek near- 
mouth: 

discharge 220 

Campion ditch at or near- 
Black Point: 

description 105 

discharge 106 

discharge, daily 106-107 

gage heights 106-107 

Dorothy Creek: 

discharge 138 

Candle, precipitation at 19, 24-29, 31 

Candle Creek at— 
mouth: 

discharge 248 

Candle Creek mouth, 
Kiwalik River near: 

description 242 

discharge 30, 242 

discharge, daily 243 

gage heights 243 

Candle ditch intake, 
Glacier Creek near: 

description 244 

discharge 245 

discharge, daily 245 

gage heights 245 

Ophir Creek at: 

description 82-83 

discharge 29,83 

Canyon Creek (Casadepaga River drainage) 
near- 
Boulder Creek: 

discharge 81 

ditch intake: 

discharge 81 

Canyon Creek (Kruzgamepa River drainage) 
at— 
Gold Beach Development Co.'s intake: 

discharge 194 

Canyon Creek mouth, 
Iron Creek near: 

description 185 

discharge 194 

discharge, daily 185 

gage heights 186 



Page. 

Canyon ditch, construction of 260, 262 

miscellaneous measurements on 87 

view of 258 

Canyon ditch near — 

claim " No. 10 above": 

description 86 

discharge 86,87 

gageheights 86 

Intake: 

description 83 

discharge 83-85 

gage heights 84-85 

Cape Horn, view of 258* 

Casadepaga River near- 
Moonlight Creek: 

description 79 

discharge 79,80 

gageheights 80 

Whisky Creek: 

discharge 80 

Casadepaga River basin, description of 78-79 

drainage areas in 63 

dredges in 296 

miscellaneous measurements in 80-81 

stream flow in 79-80 

Cascade ditch, description of 219 

Cascade ditch intake, 
Taylor Creek at: 

description 209 

discharge 209 

discharge, daily 210 

gage heights 210 

Cawlfleld Creek at - 
Miocene ditch: 

discharge 76 

Cedric ditch intake, 
Aurora Creek near: 

discharge 145 

Slate Creek near: 

discharge 145 

Cedric ditch near- 
penstock: 

description 143 

discharge 143, 144 

discharge, daily 144 

gage heights 144 

Chicago Creek mouth, 
Kugruk River near: 

discharge 236 

Chicago Creek near- 
coal mine: 

description 234 

discharge, daily 234 

gage heights 234 

Christian Creek near- 
railroad: 

discharge 138 

Chum drills, prospecting by 278-282 

Clara Creek, 

Miocene ditch at: 

description 111-112 

discharge 112 

discharge, daily 112 

gageheights 112 



INDEX, 



307 



Pagre. 
Clara Creek siphon, 
Seward ditch nean 

discharge 139 

Climate, character of 15-32 

effect of, on mining costs 273-274 

precipitation of 19-32 

temperature <^f 16-18 

summary of 16 

Coal, cost of 250,302 

Coal Creek at— 
mouth: 

discharge 90 

Coal Creek mouth, 

Solomon River nean 

discharge 90 

Coarse Gold Creek near- 
Jones Gulch: 

discharge 220 

mouth: 

description 213 

discharge 214 

discharge, daily 214 

gage heights 214 

Nugget Gulch: 

discharge 220 

Coarse Gold Creek mouth, 
Kougarok River near: 

description 206-207 

discharge 30, 207 , 220 

discharge, daily 208-209 

gage heights 208-209 

water power 254 

Cobblestone River basta, description of 151 

drainage area of 65 

gaging stations in 151 

water power in 254 

Coffee Creek near- 
Wonder Gulch: 

discharge , 220 

Collier, A. J., on beach placers 46 

on geology of Seward Peninsula 34 

on topography 14 

Colmnbia Creek at— 
mouth: 

discharge 220 

Copper Creek ditch at— 
Jett Creek: 

discharge 138 

Copper Creek mouth, 
Copper Creek near: 

discharge 173 

Nugget Creek near: 

discharge 173 

Copper Creek siphon, 
Jett Creek ditch near: 

discharge 138 

Cottonwood Creek near- 
Divide Creek: 

discharge 226 

Council district, dredgingin 296 

Crater Creek at— 

Salmon Lake ditch intake: 

discharge 194 

Crater Creek mouth, 

Kruzgamepa River near: 

discharge , 194 



Page. 
Crater Lake outlet- 
description 162-163 

discharge 163 

discharge, dafly 163-164 

gage heights 163-164 

Cretaceous rocks, distribution and character 

of 36 

relatione!, to gold placers 49 

Cripple River basin, description of. 143 

drainage areas in 143 

miscellaneous measurements in 145 

stream flow in 143-145 

Cripple River near- 
Aurora Creek: 

discharge 145 

Cub Creek at— 
mouth: 

discharge 249 

Cub Creek mouth, 
Bear Creek near: 

discharge 249 

Current meter, use of 55-57 

Current-meter stations, classes of 57-58, 59-60 

D. 

Dahl, precipitation at 19,25,27,29 

Daniels Creek, mining on 290 

Darby Range, character of 14 

David Creek at or near- 
Miocene ditch intake: 

description 101 

discharge 138 

discharge, daily 101 

David Creek ditch at— 
Black Point: 

description 121 

discharge 121 

discharge, daily 122-123 

gage heights 122-123 

Deer Creek near- 
mouth: 

discharge 248 

Dexter branch near- 
Grass Gulch: 

discharge 138 

Dexter flume, 

Seward ditch near: 

description 130 

discharge 130 

discharge, daily 131-132 

gage heights 131-132 

Dillon Creek near— 

Pargon ditch crossing: 

discharge 76 

Discharge. See Stream discharge. 

Discharge ciu*ves, figure showing 58, 59 

Discovery Creek at— 

Gold Beach Development Co.'s intake: 

discharge 194 

Ditches, construction of 255-256 

construction of, methods of 258-263 

list of 257 

seepage losses from 263 

Divide Creek at— 
mouth: 

discharge 226 



308 



INDEX. 



Divide Creek month, 

Cottonwood Creek near Page. 

discharge. 226 

Dome Creek (Iron Creek drainage) near— 
Hardluck Creek; 

description 184 

discharge 194 

discharge, daily 184 

gage heights 184 

Dome Creek (Kiwalik River drainage) at— 
ditch intake: 

discharge.. 248 

siphon crossing: 

description 246 

discharge 246 

discharge, daily 246 

gage heights 246 

Dorothy Creek near- 
mouth: 

discharge 138 

Dorothy Creek mouth- 
Nome River near: 

discharge 138 

Dorothy Creek siphon, 
Miocene ditch near: 

discharge 138 

Dragline scraper, description of 287-289 

Drainage areas, list of 62-67 

Dredges, power for 250-251, 302 

use of 292-297 

plate showing 292 

Drift mining, cost of 300-301 

description of 297-301 

figure showing 290, 298, 299 

Drilling, prospecting by 278-282 

prospecting by, reliability of 282 

season for 282 

Dry Creek crossing, 
Seward ditch near: 

discharge 139 

E. 
Eagle Creek at— 
ditch intake: 

discharge 249 

East Fork ditch at or near- 
Big Hurrah Creek: 

discharge 90 

East Fork mouth: 

discharge 90 

Intake: 

discharge 90 

East Fork Solomon River at— 
mouth: 

discharge 90 

Eldorado Creek (Kiwalik River drainage) at— 
siphon crossing: 

discharge 248 

Eldorado Creek (Kruzgamepa River drainage) 
at— 
Gold Beach Development Co.'s intake: 

discharge 194 

Eldorado River basin, description of 90-91 

drainage areas in 64 

gaging stations in 91 

Equivalents, convenient, table of 52-53 

Erosion, universality of 51 



1 

?age. I 



Esperanza Creek mouth, 

Good Hope River nean Page. 

description 224-225 

discharge 30,225 

discharge, daily 225 

gage heights 225 

Euieka Creek mouth, 

North Fork of Kougarok River near: 

description 215 

discharge 216 

discharge, daily 216 

gage heights ^... 216 

Extra Dry Creek crossing, 

Pioneer ditch near: 

discharge 139 

Seward ditch near: 

discharge 139 

F. 

Fairbanks, mining at 300-301 

Fairhaven ditch at— 
Camp 2: 

description 237 

discharge 237 

discharge, daily 238 

gage heights 238 

intake: 

description 236 

discharge 237 

discharge, daily 237 

gage heights 237 

Snow Gulch: 

description 238 

discharge 238 

discharge, daily 239 

gage heights 239 

Fairhaven ditch intake, 
Kugruk River near: 

description 232 

discharge 232 

discharge, daily 232 

gage heights 232 

Fairhaven ditch system, construction of . . 259-260 

description of 235-236 

flow in 236-239 

miscellaneous measurements in 239 

seepage losses in 268-269 

Fall Creek- 
description 150 

discharge 150,254 

discharge, daily 151 

water power 254 

False bedrock, nature of 40 

Fish River basin, description of 68 

drainage areas in 62-63 

miscellaneous measurements in 68 

stream flow in 69-87 

Flambeau River basin, description of 91 

drainage areas in 64 

Floats, use of 56 

Flumes, construction and use of 260-262 

views of 260 

Food, cost of 274 

Fox Creek near- 
mouth of canyon: 

194 



INDEX. 



309 



Fox Rhrer at— 

Fox River roadhouse: Page, 

discharge 68 

Freighting, cost of 272-273 

Frozen ground, distribution and character of. 38 

diteh construction in 258, 259-260 

effect of, oncosts 276 

mining in, view of 290 

Fuel,costof 250,297,302 

G. 

Gage heights, table of 53 

Geologic map of Seward Peninsula 32 

Geology, outline of 32-38 

Gibson, Arthur, records of 16-18 

Glaciated valley, view of 12 

Glacier branch near- 
Snow Gulch: 

discharge 138 

Glacier Creek, miaing on, plates showing. . 286,290 
Glacier Creek feeder near— 
theX: 

discharge 138 

Glacier Creek mouth. 
Snake River near: 

description 140 

discharge 140 

discharge, daily 140-141 

gage heights 140-141 

Glacier Creek near- 
Candle ditch intake: 

description 244 

discharge 245 

discharge, daily 245 

gage heights 245 

Gold, production of 270-271, 301-302 

production of, diagram showing 271 

Gold Beach Development Co.'s ditch al- 
penstock: 

discharge 194 

Gold Beach Development Co.'s iutake, 
Canyon Creek at: 

discharge 194 

Discovery Creek at: 

discharge 194 

Eldorado Creek at: 

discharge 194 

Goldbottom Creek, mining on, plate showing. 286 
Golden Gate Mining Co.'s intake, 
Iron Creek near: 

discharge 194 

Gold placers, distribution of 48-51 

formation of, essentials for 50 

future of 303 

nature and origin of 38=39 

relation of, to bedrock 49 

typesof 39-48 

flgureshowing 41 

See also Placer mining. 
Gold Rim (Grand Central River drainage) 
near- 
mouth of canyon: 

description 168-169 

discharge 170 

discharge, daily 169 

gage heights 169 



Gold Run (Kiwalik River drainage) at— 

ditch intake: Page. 

discharge 248 

Goodhope River basin, description of. 223-224 

drainage areas iu 67 

miscellaneous measurements in 226 

stream flow in 224-226 

Goodhope River near— 

Esperanza Creek mouth: 

description 224-225 

discharge 30, 225 

discharge, daily ».. 225 

gage heights 225 

Goodhope River, Right Fork, at— 
mouth: 

discharge 226 

Goose Creek mouth, 

Noxapaga River near: 

water power 254-255 

Gradients, stream, rate of 275 

rate of, effect of, on costs 275 

Grand Central, 

precipitation at 19-24, 26, 28, 31, 32 

diagram showing 20 

Grand Central ditch at or near- 
intake: 

description 125 

discharge 125 

discharge, daily 125 

gage heights 125 

Nugget Creek: 

description of. 172-173 

discharge 138-173 

Grand Central ditch system, pipe line of. . 262-263 
Grand Central River, measuiing flow of, plate 

showing 56 

view on 12 

Grand Central River at or near- 
forks: 

description 156-157, 158-159 

discharge 30, 157, 159 

discharge, daily 157-158, 160-161 

gage heights 157-158, 160-161 

Nugget Creek: 

description 161-162 

discharge 162 

discharge, daily 162 

gage heights 162 

Grand Central River basin, description of . 151-153 

drainage areas in 65 

gaging stations in 153 

miscellaneous measurements in 173 

stream flow in 153-173 

view in 12 

Grand Central River, North Fork, at— 
forks: 

description 167 

discharge 168 

discharge, daily 168 

gage heights 168 

ditch intakes: 

description 165,166-167 

discharge 166 

discharge, daily 166, 167 

gage heights 166,167 



310 



INDEX. 



Grand Central "River, West Fork, at— Page, 

ditch intakes: 

description 153-154,155 

discharge 155 

discharge, daily 154-155, 156 

gage heights 154-155,156 

Grand Union Creek near- 
springs: 

discharge 194 

Granitic rocks, distribution and character of. 35-36 
Grass Gulch, 

Dexter branch near: 

discharge 138 

power plant on 290 

Gravel-plain placers, distribution and char- 
acter of 42-43 

Gravels, bench, distribution and character of. 41-44 

distribution of, map showing 43 

position of, figure showing 41 

Ground sluicing, method of 286 

method of, plates showing 286 

Grouse Creek, ditch near — 
outlet: 

discharge 138 

H. 

Hand drills, prospecting by 279-281 

Hardluck Creek mouth, 
Dome Creek near: 

description 184 

discharge 194 

discharge, daily 184 

gage heights 184 

Harris Creek: 

discharge 220 

Helen Creek at— 

Miocene ditch crossing: 

discharge 76 

Pargon ditch intake: 

discharge 76 

Helen Creek crossing, 
Pargon ditch near: 

description 71-72 

discharge 72 

gage heights 72-73 

Helen Creek lateral: 

discharge 76 

Henry Creek at— 
mouth: 

description 210-211 

discharge 211 

discharge, daily 212-213 

gage heights 212-213 

Henry Creek ditch, 
Lillian Creek near: 

discharge 220 

Henry Creek mouth, 

Kougarok River near: 

description 205-206 

discharge 206 

discharge, daily 206 

gageheights 206 

Henshaw, F. F., on ditches 255-269 

on dredges 294-295 

on Grass Gulch plant 290 

on hand drills 280 



Page. 

Henshaw, F. F., on water power 249-255 

work of 11-13 

Henshaw, F. F., and Parker, G. L., on 

climate 15-32 

on stream discharge 51-249 

Henshaw, F. F., and Smith, P. S., on ele- 
vators 290-292 

Hobson branch mouth, 
Pioneer ditch near: 

discharge 139 

Seward ditch near: 

description 129 

discharge 129,139 

discharge, daily 129-130 

gage heights 129-130 

Hobson branch near- 
outlet: 

description 134 

discharge ^ 134 

discharge, daily 135 

gageheights 135 

Hobson Creek at or near- 
Manila Creek mouth: 

description 104-105 

discharge 105 

Miocene ditch intake: 

description 102 

discharge 103 

discharge, daily 103-104 

Hobson Creek crossing, 
Miocene ditch at: 

description 113,115 

discharge 113,115,138 

discharge, daily 113-115, 116-117 

gage heights 113-115, 116-117 

Hobson Creek mouth, 
Nome River near: 

discharge... 138 

Homestake Creek near- 
mouth: 

discharge 220 

Homestake ditch, view of 258 

Homestake ditch at— 
intake: 

description 201 

discharge 202 

discharge, daily 203-205 

gageheights 203-205 

penstock: 

description 217 

discharge 217 

discharge, daily 218 

gage heights 21 8 

Homestake ditch intake, 
Kougarok River at: 

description 201-202 

discharge 30,202 

discharge, daily 203-205 

gageheights 203-205 

Hot Air ditch at— 
Claim No. 10: 

discharge 87 

Hoyt, J. C, work of H 



INDEX. 



Sll 



Hudson Creek mouth, Page, 

Buffalo Creek near: 

discharge 138 

Hunter Creek near — 
ditch intake: 

description 246-247 

discharge 247 

discharge, daily 247-248 

gage heights 247-248 

Hutchins, J. P., on prospecting 277-284 

on scrapers 287-289 

Hydraulic elevators, use of 290-292 

use of, plate showing 290 

Hydraulic mining, description of 289-290 

plate showing 290 

Hydraulic power, stream measurements for.. 61 
Hydrometric surveys, making of 11-12 

I. 

Ice, measurements xmder 57 

Igneous rocks, distribution and character of . 35-37 

relation of, to gold placers 49 

Imuruk Basin, drainage areas in 65 

stream flow in 150-151 

Imuruk Lake — 

description 230-231 

gage heights 23 1 

water available 231 

water power 255 

Inmachuck River basin, description of 226-227 

drainage areas in 67 

miscellaneous measurements in 229 

stream flow in 227-229 

Inmachuk River near — 
Logan Gulch: 

description 227 

discharge 228 

discharge, daily 228 

gage heights 228 

Iron Creek, precipitation at 19, 23-26, 28 

Iron Creek at or near — 
Canyon Creek: 

description 185 

discharge 194 

discharge, daily 185 

gage heights 185 

Golden Gate Mining Co.'s ditch: 

discharge 194 

mouth: 

description 187 

discharge 188 

discharge, daily 188 

gage heights 188 

tunnel: 

description 185 

discharge 186 

discharge, daily 186-187 

gage heights 186-187 

Iron Creek basin, description of 183-184 

drainage areas in 66 

stream flow in 184-189 

Iron Creek flume at— 
intake: 

description 188 

discharge 188 

discharge, daily 189 

189 



Iron Creek mouth, 

Kruzgamepa River near: 

description 182 

discharge 182, 194 

discharge, daily 183 

gage heights 183 

J. 
Jasper Creek near — 
mouth: 

discharge 194 

Jett Creek near — 
Jett Creek ditch: 

description 172-173 

discharge 173 

Jett Creek ditch at or near — 
outlet: 

discharge 138 

siphon: 

description 123-124 

discharge 124, 138 

discharge, daily 124 

gage heights 124 

Johns Creek mouth, 
Solomon River near: 

discharge 90 

Jones Gulch, 

Coarse Gold Creek near: 

discharge 220 

K. 

Kigluaik group, distribution and character of. 33 

relation of, to gold placers 49 

Kigluaik Mountains, character of 14 

water power from 251,252-254 

King Mountain, map and section near 43 

Kiwalik River basin, description of 240-242 

drainage areas in 67 

gaging stations in 242 

miscellaneous measurements in 248 

stream flow in 242-248 

Kiwalik River near- 
Candle Creek mouth: 

description 242 

discharge 30, 242 

discharge, daily 243 

gage heights 243 

Klokerblok River basin, drainage areas in.. 63 
Knopf, Adolph, on hmestone of Seward Pen- 
insula 34 

Kougarok River at or near — 
Coarse G old Creek mouth: 

description 208-207 

discharge SO, 207, 220 

discharge, daily 208-209 

gage heights 208-209 

water power 254 

Henry Creek: 

description 205-206 

discharge 206 

discharge, daily 206 

gage heights 206 

Homestake ditch intake: 

description 201-202 

discharge 30, 202 

discharge, daily 203-205 

gage heights 203-205 



312 



INDEX. 



Kougarok River at or near— Continued. 

Taylor Creek: Page. 

discharge 220 

Washington Creek: 

discharge 220 

Kougarok River basin, description of 200-201 

ditches in 217-219 

drainage areas in 66 

dredges in 296 

gaging stations in 201 

miscellaneous measurements in 219-221 

stream flow in 201-221 

Kougarok River, North Fork, near— 
Eureka Creek: 

description »... 215 

discharge 215 

discharge, daily 216 

gage heights 216 

French-Alder Creek junction: 

discharge 220 

Koyuk River basin, drainage areas in 62 

Kruzgamepa River at or near- 
Crater Creek: 

discharge 194 

Iron Creek: 

description 182 

discharge 182, 194 

discharge, daily 183 

gage heights 183 

Salmon Lake outlet: 

description 175-176 

discharge 30, 31, 176 

discharge, daily 179-180 

discharge, monthly 181 

gage heights 177-178 

water-power 251-252 

Kruzgamepa River basin, description of. . . 173-175 

drainage areas in 65-66 

gaging stations in 175 

miscellaneous measurements in 194 

streamflowin 175-190 

Kugruk River at or near- 
Chicago Creek mouth: 

discharge 236 

Fairhaven ditch intake: 

description 232 

discharge 232 

discharge, daily 232 

gage heights 232 

Imuruk Lake: 

water power 255 

mouth of canyon: 

discharge 235 

Reindeer Creek near: 

description 232-233 

discharge 233 

discharge, daily 233 

gage heights 233 

Kugruk River basin, description of 229-230 

drainage areas in 67 

gaging stations in 230 

miscellaneous measurements in 235 

streamflowin * 230-235 

Kuzitrin River at — 
Lanes Landing: 

description 196-197 

discharge 30,31,197 



Kuzitrin River at— 

Lanes Landing— Continued. Page. 

discharge, daily 197-199 

gage heights 197-199 

Kuzitrin River basin, description of 195-196 

drainage areas in 66 

miscellaneous measurements in 200 

streamflowin 196-200 

See also Kougarok River basin. 

I" 

Lanagan Creek near- 
Miocene ditch: 

discharge 76 

Lanes Landing, 

Kuzitrin River at: 

description 195-197 

discharge 30, 31, 197 

discharge, daily 197-199 

gage heights 197-199 

Lava, relation of, to gold placers 49 

liillian Creek near — 
Henry Creek ditch: 

discharge 220 

Limestone, distribution and character of 34-35 

Little Creek crossing. 
Pioneer ditch near: 

discharge 139 

Logan Gulch, 

Inmachuk River near: 

description 227 

discharge 228 

discharge, daily 228 

gage heights 228 

Long torn, mining with 286 

mining with, plate showing 284 

Lost Creek crossing, 
Seward ditch near: 

discharge 139 

M. 

McKelvle Creek crossing, 
Pargon ditch near: 

description 71-72 

discharge 72 

gage heights 72-73 

McKelvie Creek near - 
Pargon ditch crossing: 

discharge 76 

McKelvie lateral— 

d ischarge ;;....." 76 

Macklin Creek near- 
ditch intake: 

discharge 220 

Map of Seward Peninsula In pocket. 

Map, geologic, of Seward Peninsula 32 

Melsing Creek at — 
mouth: 

discharge 78 

Middle Creek- 
description 193 

discharge 193 

Midnight Sun ditch near- 
Big Hurrah Creek mouth: 

discharge 90 

Miner's inch, definition of 51-52 

Mining. See Placer mining. 



INDEX. 



313 



Miocene ditch at or near- 
Black Point: Page. 

description 108 

discharge 109 

discharge, daily 109-111 

gage heights 109-111 

Clara Creek: 

description 111-112 

discharge 112 

discharge, daily.. 112 

gage heights 112 

Dorothy Creek siphon: 

discharge 138 

flume: 

description 118 

discharge 118 

discharge, daily 119-121 

gage heights 119-121 

Hobson Creek: 

description 113, 115 

discharge 113,115,138 

discharge, daily 113-115, 11&-117 

gage heights 113-115, llfr-117 

' theX: 

discharge 138, 139 

Miocene ditch crossing. 
Cawlfield Creek at: 

discharge 76 

Helen Creek at: 

discharge 76 

Lanagan Creek near: 

discharge 76 

Miocene ditch intake, 
David Creek at: 

description 101 

discharge 138 

discharge, daily 101 

Hobson Creek at: 

description 102 

discharge 103 

discharge, daily 103, 104 

Nome River at or near: 

description 92, 95, 96 

discharge 29, 93, 138 

discharge, daily 93-94, 95, 96-97 

gage heights 93-94, 95 

Pargon River near: 

discharge 76 

Miocene ditch system, description of 107-108 

flow in 108-125 

flumes on 262 

seepage losses on 265, 267-269 

view on 258 

Moffit, F. H., on geology of Seward Peninsula. 33, 36 
Moonlight Creek at— 
ditch intake: 

discharge 80 

Moonlight Creek mouth, 
Casadepaga River near: 

description 79 

discharge 79, 80 

gage heights 80 

Morning Call Creek near- 
Miocene ditch: 

description 172-173 

discharge 173 



Mountain Creek mouth, 

Stewart River near: Page. 

discharge 149 

Mountains, character of 14 

Muck, distribution and character of 37-38 

N. 
Newton Gulch, 

Stewart ditch near: 

description \ 132 

discharge 133 

discharge, daily 133-134 

gage heights 133-134 

Niukluk River basin, description of 76-77 

drainage areas in 62-63 

miscellaneou s measurements in 78 

stream flow in 77-87 

Niukluk River near— 
Ophir Creek: 

discharge 78 

Nome, beach placers at 45, 47, 271 

beach placers at, distribution of, figure 

showing 46 

section of, figure showing 47 

dredges near 294-296 

mining at, plates showing 284, 290, 298 

power plant at 250 

precipitation at 19-28, 31-32 

temperature at 17-18 

Nome River at or near- 
Dorothy ditch: 

discharge 138 

Hobson Creek: 

discharge 138 

Miocene ditch intake: 

descrip tion 92, 95, 96 

discharge 29, 93, 138 

discharge, daily 93-94, 95, 96-97 

gage heights 93-94, 95 

Pioneer ditch intake: 

descrip tion 97 

discharge 30, 98 

discharge, daily 98-100 

gage heights 98-100 

Seward ditch intake: 

discharge 138 

Nome River basin, description of 91-92 

drainage areas in 84 

gaging stations in 92 

miscellaneous measurements in 138-139 

stream flow in 92-139 

North Star Creek- 
description 148 

discharge 149 

discharge, daily 149 

gage heights 149 

North Star ditch at or near — 
siphon: 

description 218 

discharge 218 

discharge, daily 219 

gage heights 219 

siphon 262 

North Star ditch intake, 
Taylor Creek at: 

discharge 220 



314 



INDEX. 



Noxapaga Rirer near — 

Goose Creek moutli: Page. 

water power 254r-255 

Nugget Creek near- 
Copper Creek: 

discharge 1 73 

Grand Central branch: 

description 172-173 

discharge 173 

Nugget Creek crossing, 

Grand Central ditch near: 

discharge 138 

Nugget Creek mouth, 

Grand Central River near: 

description 161-162 

discharge 162 

discharge, daily 162 

gage heights 162 

Nugget Gulch, 

Coarse Gold Creek near: 

discharge 220 

O. 

OH, fuel, cost of 250 

Open-cut mining, method of 286-289 

method of, plate showing 286, 288 

Ophir, precipitation at 19-22, 25-28, 31 

Ophir Creek, flume over, view of 260 

mining on, plates showing 288 

Ophir Creek at or near- 
Canyon ditch intake: 

description 82-83 

discharge 29,83 

Claim No. 19 ditch: 

discharge 87 

Claim No. 22 ditch: 

discharge 87 

Ophir Creek basin, description of 81-82 

drainage areas in 63 

dredge in 295 

gaging station in 82 

miscellaneous measurements in 87 

stream flow in 82-87 

Ophir Creek mouth, 
Niukluk River near: 

discharge 78 

Oregon Creek (Cripple River drainage) near- 
forks: 

discharge 145 

Oregon Creek (Fish River drainage) at — 
edge of mountains: 

discharge 68 

Osbom Creek- 
description 193 

discharge 193 

Osborne, Movmt, view near 12 

P. 
Paleozoic limestones, distribution and char- 
acter of 34-35 

relation of, to gold placers 49 

Pargon ditch, 

construction 261 

Dillon Creek near: 

discharge 76 

Helen Creek at: 

discharge 76 

Lanagan Creek near: 

discharge 76 



Pargon ditch— Continued. 

MoKelvie Creek near: Page. 

discharge 76 

Pargon ditch at or near- 
Dillon Creek: 

discharge 76 

Helen Creek crossing: 

description 73 

discharge 73-74, 76 

gage heights 74-75 

intake: 

discharge 70,71 

gage heights 71 

McKelvie Creek crossing: 

description 71-72 

discharge 72 

gage heights 72-73 

Ophir Creek: 

discharge 76 

Pargen River at or near- 
Miocene intake: 

discharge 76 

Pargon ditch intake: 

description 70 

discharge 29, 70 

gage heights 71 

Pargon River basin, description of 69 

drainage areas in 62 

gaging stations in 69 

miscellaneous measurements 76 

stream flow in 70-76 

Parker, G. L., on seepage losses 263-269 

work of 11-12 

Parker, G. L,, and Henshaw, F. F., on cli- 
mate 15-32 

on stream measurement 51-249 

Pass Creek near- 
dam site: 

description 189-190 

discharge 190 

discharge, daily 190-191 

gage heights 190-191 

water power 253 

Passenger transportation, cost of 272-273 

Pay streak, distribution and character of 40 

Penny^iver at— 
ditch intake: 

description 141 

discharge 142, 143 

discharge, daily 142 

gage heights 143 

Penny River basin, description of 141 

drainage areas in 64 

stream flow in 141-143 

Pioneer ditch at or near— ^ 

Extra Dry Creek: 

discharge 139 

Hobson branch: 

discharge 139 

Intake: 

description 135-136 

discharge 136 

discharge, dafly 136-137 

gage heights 136-137 

Little Creek: 

discharge 139 



INDEX. 



315 



Pioneer ditch intake, 

Nome River at or near: Page. 

description 97 

discharge 30,98 

discharge, daily 98-100 

gage heights 98-100 

Pioneer ditch system, description of 135 

flowm 135-137 

Pipe lines, construction of 262-263 

Placer mining, cost of 272-276, 302-303 

future of 303 

historical sketch of 270-271 

information concerning, sources of 269-270 

methods of 276-277,285-307 

See also Prospecting. 

summary of 301-303 

view of 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 298 

Polar Creek at— 
Intake: 

discharge 249 

Pond Creek- 
description 150 

discharge 150, 254 

discharge, daily 151 

waterpower 254 

Power drills, prospecting by 278-279, 280-281 

Precipitation, records of 19-32 

Price current meter, description of 56-57 

plate showing 56 

Production of Seward Peninsula. . . 270-271, 301-302 

diagram showtag 271 

Prospecting, general conditions of 277-278 

methods of 278-285 

choice of 283-285 

suggestions for 49-51 

Purington, C. W. , on mining costs 269, 286, 300 

Q. 

Quartz Creek near— 

Bismark Creek: 

description 223 

discharge, daily 223 

gage heights 223 

forks: 

description 243 

discharge 243 

discharge, daily 244 

gage heights 244 

Quartz Creek, North and South Forks, near- 
ditch intake: 

discharge 248 

R. 
Rainbow Creek near- 
mouth: 

discharge 173 

Rating tables, use of 54,57-58 

Reindeer Creek near- 
ditch intake: 

discharge 223 

Kugruk River: 

description 232-233 

discharge 233 

discharge, daily 233 

gage heights 233 

Residual placers ,distribution and character of 39 

figure showing 41 

Richards, Raymond, work of 11 

Rickard, T. A., on dredging 295 

on thawing costs 297 



Ridgeway Creek, 

Willow Creek near: Page. 

discharge 81 

Rock Creek- 
discharge 194 

Rocker, figure showing 286 

mining with 285-286 

plate showing 284 

Ruby Creek at— 
mouth: 

discharge 81 

Run-ofl. See Stream discharge. 



Salmon Lake, 

precipitation at 19-22,28,31 

storage at 182 

Salmon Lake outlet, 

Kruzgamepa River at: 

description 175-176 

discharge 30, 31, 176 

discharge, daily 179-180 

discharge, monthly 181 

gage heights 177-178 

water power 251-252 

Sampling, care in 281-282 

Schists, distribution and character of 33 

relation of, to gold placers 49, 50 

Schlitz Creek near- 
ditch intake: 

discharge 223 

Scope of work, statement of 9-12 

Scrapers, use of 287-289 

use of, plate showing 286 

Second-foot, definition of 51, 52 

Sedimentary rocks, distribution and charac- 
ter of 33-35 

Seepage, losses from 263-269 

Serpentine River basin, description of 222 

miscellaneous measurements in 223 

stream flow in 223 

Seward ditch at or near- 
Banner Creek: 

discharge 139 

Clara Creek siphon: 

discharge 139 

Dexter flume: 

description 130 

discharge 130 

discharge, daily 131-132 

gage heights 131-132 

Dry Creek: 

discharge 139 

Extra Dry Creek: 

discharge 139 

Hobson branch: 

description 129 

discharge. . . : 129, 139 

discharge, daily 129-130 

gage heights 129-130 

intake: 

description 126 

discharge 126 

discharge, daily 127-128 

gage heights 127-128 

Lost Creek: 

discharge 139 



316 



INDEX. 



Seward ditch at or near— Continued. 

Newton Gulch: Page. 

description 132 

discharge 133 

discharge, daily 133-134 

gage heights 133-134 

Seward ditch intake, 
Nome River near: 

discharge 138 

Seward ditch system, description of 126 

flow in 126-135 

seepage losses on 266, 268-269 

siphons on 262 

Seward Peninsula, geologic map of 32 

map of In pocket. 

Shafts, prospecting by 282-283 

Shaktolik group, distribution and character 

of 35 

Shelton, precipitation at 19, 22-24, 28, 31 

Silver, production of 270 

Slnuk River (upper)— 

description 146 

discharge 149 

discharge, daily 147 

gage heights 147 

Sinuk River basin, description of 145-146 

drainage areas in 65 

gaging stations in i46 

miscellaneous measurements in 149-150 

stream flow in 146-150 

Siphons, construction of 262-263 

Slate Creek (Cripple River drainage) at— 
Cedric ditch intake: 

discharge 145 

Slate Creek (Kruzgamepa River drainage)— 

discharge 194 

Smith, P. S., on descriptive geology 32-38 

on dredging 292-294 

on gold placers 38-51 

on topography 13-15 

Smith, P. S., and Henshaw, F. F., on eleva- 
tors 290-292 

Smith Creek near — 
Swift Creek: 

description 191-192 

discharge 192 

discharge, daily 192,253 

gage heights 192 

Snake River near- 
Glacier Creek mouth: 

description 140 

discharge 140 

discharge, daily 140-141 

gage heights 140-141 

Snake River basin, description of. 139-140 

drainage areas in 64 

stream flow in 140-141 

Snow Gulch (Imuruk drainage)— 

description 150 

discharge 150 

discharge, daily 151 

Snow Gulch (Kugruk River drainage), 
Fairhaven ditch at: 

description 238 

discharge 238 

discharge, daily 239 

239 



Snow Gulch (Nome River drainage), 

Glacier branch near: Page. 

discharge 138 

Solomon River basin, description of 87-88 

drainage areas in 63-64 

dredges in 292-294, 296 

view of 292 

miscellaneous measurements in 90 

stream flow in 88-90 

Solomon River near — 
Coal Creek: 

discharge go 

East Fork: 

description 88-89 

discharge 89, 90 

gage heights 89 

Johns Creek: 

discharge 90 

Split Creek at— 
mouth: 

discharge 249 

Steam shovel, mining with, plate showing. . . 288 
Stewart River near— 
Moimtain Creek: 

discharge 149 

Stitch ditch at— 
outlet: 

discharge 87 

Stream discharge, data of 53-54 

measurement of, accuracy of 60-61 

computation of 57-60 

figure showing 58,59 

methods of 54-57 

figure showing 55 

terms used in 51-53 

records of 29-32 

relation of, the drainage area 62 

Stream gradients, effect of, on costs 275 

Stream placers, distribution and character of. 40-44 

figure showing 41 

Streams, drainage areas of, Ust of 62-67 

Sutton ditch at - 
intake: 

description 141 

discharge 142 

discharge, daily 142 

gage heights 142 

Swift Creek mouth, 
Smith Creek near: 

description 191-192 

discharge 192 

discharge, daily 192 

gage heights 192 

T. 

Taylor, precipitation at 19, 22-24, 29, 31, 32 

precipitation at, diagram showing 20 

Taylor Creek at— 

Cascade intake: 

description 209 

discharge 209 

discharge, daily... 210 

gage heights 210 

mouth: 

discharge 220 

North Star ditch: 

discharge 220 



INDEX. 



317 



Taylor Creek mouth, 

Kougaxok River near Page. 

discharge • 220 

Temperature, records of 16-18 

Tertiary rocks, distribution and character of. 35 

Thawing, method of 299 

Thompson Creek near- 
ditch intake: 

description 170 

discharge 170 

discharge, daily 171-172 

gage heights 171-172 

Three Friends dredge, description of 292-293 

Thumit Creek near- 
ditch intake: 

discharge 173 

Timber, cost of 275-276 

Tisuk River basin, drainage areas in 65 

Topkok ditch, flume on, view of 260 

Topkok River basia, drainage areas in 63 

Topography, outline of 13-15 

plate showing 12 

Transportation, cost of 272-273, 302 

Tubutulik River basin, drainage areas in 62 

Tuksuk Channel basin, drainage areas in 65 

U. 

Unconsolidated deposits, distribution and 

character of 37-38 

Ungalik conglomerate, distribution and char- 
acter of 35 

W. 
Wade River near- 
mouth: 

discharge 235 

Wages, rate of 274,300 

Washington Creek at— 
mouth: 

discharge 220 



Washington Creek mouth— 

Kougarok River near: Page. 

discharge 220 

Water power, general conditions affecting- . 249-251 

sites for 251-255 

stream measurements for 61 

Water resources, inadequacy of 276 

investigation of 10-12 

Water-sorted placers, distribution and char- 
acter of 39-48 

figure showing 41 

West End Creek- 
description 193 

discharge 193 

Whisky Creek mouth, 

Casadepaga River near: 

discharge 80 

Willow Creek (Casadepaga River drainage) 
near — 
Ridgeway Creek: 

discharge 81 

Willow Creek (Kruzgamepa River drain- 
age)— 

discharge 194 

Windy Creek (Kougarok River drainage) 
near- 
Anderson Gulch: 

discharge 220 

Windy Creek (Sinuk River drainage)— 

description 147 

discharge 149 

discharge, daily 148 

gage heights 148 

Wonder Gulch, 

Coffee Creek near: 

discharge 220 



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